The drop in sales of the main line of value-added produce, though small, could be troublesome. I would like to think of LNDC as a "consumer stables" outfit, likely to survive consumer retrenchment pretty well. But these premium priced packs might not behave that way. For example, party trays of veggie snacks might juuuuust be related to the number of parties out there. Or, those single bananas sold at Starbucks might do more poorly than Starbucks itself. Increasing brokerage sales will do little for profitability. I don't know, but just passing more produce through the cooling and shipping equipment might absorb some fixed costs.

But I was very distressed to read that..."Retail grocery store advanced trials for bananas have been put on hold until such time that consumers are prepared to purchase innovative packaged bananas with longer shelf life that are sold as a premium priced product." I read this as "never".

This was the big Kahuna, or big banana, if you like, for the future of the Chiquita deal. The volume potential dwarfs everything else on the horizen.

Now we have to hope that LNDC can execute its acquisition hopes brilliently, manage all phases of its bread and butter business frugally, cut overheads, and emerge in good health in 18 months.