European Commission says Chiquita, Pacific Fruit conspired to fix prices on bananas in several European countries in 2004-2005, will fine Pacific Fruit €9M

Cindy Allen

BRUSSELS , October 12, 2011 (Associated Press) – European competition regulators say Chiquita and Pacific Fruit conspired to fix prices on bananas in Greece, Italy and Portugal between July 2004 and April 2005.

The European Commission said Wednesday it will fine Pacific Fruit euro8.9 million. Chiquita escaped a fine because it blew the whistle on the cartel.

This is the second banana cartel case in the EU in recent years. In October 2008, the Commission fined fruit companies Dole and Weichert euro60 million for fixing banana prices in eight northern European states between 2000 and 2002.

Chiquita was also part of that cartel, but was not fined because it reported it to the Commission.

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