Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc, one of the world's largest producers and marketers of fresh fruit and vegetables, announced that net sales for the third quarter of 2003 rose to $563.7 million, compared with $498.5 million in the same period of 2002. Net sales for the first nine months rose to $1.9 billion from $1.6 billion a year ago.
The company's gross profit for the third quarter of 2003 was $65.0 million, compared with a gross profit of $67.9 million for the third quarter of 2002. Gross profit for the first nine months was $281.3 million, versus $271.5 million for the same period a year ago.
Net income for third-quarter 2003 totaled $34.3 million, in contrast to $32.5 million in the third quarter of 2002. Net income for the first nine months increased to $203.6 million, compared with $160.0 million a year ago.