In 1870, Captain Lorenzo Dow Baker transported the first ever load of bananas from Jamaica to Massachusetts. On his arrival, the bananas were already decomposed, so from then on, he only transported green bananas which became ripe when they arrived at their destinations.

In 1885, he founded the Boston Fruits Company with his partner Andre Woodbury Preston. In 1899, the Boston Fruits Company merged with Costa Rica's railroad company and formed the United Fruits Company.

Today's logo is derived from an advertisement figure that Dick Browne designed in 1963. The figure was half woman, half banana, and was called "Mis Chiquita". "Chiquita" is Spanish for "tiny", "small girl".

The Chiquita logo was designed by the same artist who designed Hägar the Horrible.