United Fruit Company is established.

Originally the Boston Fruit Company, it is founded by Lorenzo Dow Baker and others and located initially on Long Wharf. It moves to 60 State Street in 1900 and to 131 State Street in 1903. The company merges with the Costa Rican Company to form the United Fruit Company in 1899, and expands throughout Latin America, Peter Chapman subsequently writes, “[United Fruit becomes] more powerful than many nation states . . . [and invents] the concept and reality of the banana republic.” The company merges with AMK-John Morrell to form United Brands in 1970, and becomes Chiquita Brands International in 1984.