TORONTO – The brass at Chiquita Banana say they were misunderstood and that they aren’t really calling for a boycott of Canada's tarsands oil.

That comes despite the fact that in a document sent to a U.S.-based environmental activist group, Chiquita stated its goal is to direct transportation providers to “avoid, where possible” fuels from “tar sands.” The statement went on to say it hopes to eventually "eliminate" the use of Canadian fuel with oil sands content.

In response, the CEO of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) David Bradley, who represents more than 4,500 trucking companies, expressed dismay and concern over reports that Chiquita was planning an embargo of oil sands fuel, saying the directive ignored the “environmental realities” and the “national energy security implications” and that such a ban would be virtually impossible for motor carriers to comply with if put into practice.

After hearing from Bradley, the Senior Vice President of Government and International Affairs and Corporate Responsibility at Chiquita Brands International, Manuel Rodriguez, denied the company asked its transportation suppliers to quit using fuel derived from the Canadian oil sands.

Rodriguez the company did not call for a boycott, explaining that “certain groups” took its statement out of context.

“Press reports have inaccurately stated that we have boycotted or banned Canadian oil,” Rodriguez wrote. “What we have stated is our goal to … reduce our carbon footprint. To achieve this, Chiquita is also taking advantage of opportunities to reduce its consumption of petroleum, through increased vehicle efficiency, use of alternative fuels, and reduced vehicle usage.

“With regard to our fuel usage in particular, we have encouraged our suppliers to source, where possible, various fuel sources that have a lower carbon footprint and commit to a strategy of continuous improvement.  

“This certainly does not exclude Canadian fuel,” he wrote.

?Bradley said he is generally satisfied with Chiquita’s response for now. “We will have further follow-up with Chiquita's supply chain operations staff, but the company’s response suggests that no embargo on oil sands based fuel is or will be put in place,” he said.