Aug 9, 2004 12:33 PM, from staff and wire reports

Chiquita Brands International Inc has reported second-quarter 2004 net income of $30 million, including an after-tax loss of $4 million on the sale of its Colombian banana production division. The company tallied net income of $57 million for the same period a year ago.

“We achieved solid operating performance in the second quarter considering the impact of asset sales, which represented a difference of $33 million in net income year-over-year,” said Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer.

Net sales for the 2004 quarter were $848 million, up from $829 million in second-quarter 2003. Operating income from continuing operations was $37 million, compared with $61 million in the year-ago period.