Pineapple History and Markets in the Americas

The pineapple plant, scientifically known as Ananas comosus, is the only tropical plant of the bromeliad family to bear an edible fruit. Endemic to South America, the pineapple plant is a terrestrial herb that grows between 2 and 4 feet tall as well as 3 to 4 feet wide. While unripe pineapples are poisonous, causing throat irritation and vomiting. However, these fruits are a unique delicacy once mature. Even though pineapples are often classified as fruits, they are actually made up of many individual berries that cluster and fuse around a central stalk.

In terms of pollination, pineapple plants do not self-fertilize, but rather they are reproduced by means of vegetative propagation from their crowns, slips, or suckers. The crown of the pineapple plant is the shoot at the top of the plant, while the slips are the side shoots that grow below the fruit, and the suckers are side shoots that grow out from the main stem of the plant, close to the ground. Being a tropical plant, pineapples grow best at a temperature between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pineapple History and Markets in the Americas

Early European explorers to the Americas, who recognized the fruit’s resemblance to a pinecone, coined the English word pineapple. However, Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the pineapple on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe during one of his early voyages. Meanwhile, in South America, Guarani natives in the regions of Paraguay and Brazil have cultivated pineapples as a food item for centuries. In the context of the history of the United States, it is said that George Washington first tasted a pineapple in the island of Barbados in 1751 and he is credited with declaring that it was his favorite tropical fruit. Currently, some areas of the United States, particularly Florida, grow pineapples. However, it is still an exotic fruit in many North American households.

Currently, there are more than 30 listed pineapple varieties, also known as cultivars. In some circles, this multitude of varieties is subsequently grouped into four main classes: Smooth Cayenne, Red Spanish, Queen, and Abacaxi. Some of the main characteristics that determine pineapple categorization are size, sweetness, and region of cultivation. For instance, Smooth Cayenne pineapples are principally grown in Hawaii and represent the variety most frequently found in the United States. Furthermore, some of the characteristics of the Smooth Cayenne group is that they are amongst the largest pineapples, weighing between 4 and 10 pounds; they have an orange rind and yellow flesh; and they are known for their juiciness and slightly acidic flavor.

Simultaneously, Abacaxi pineapples, which usually weight between 2 and 11 pounds, are known for their sweetness and resistance to disease. However, the downside to Abacaxi pineapples is that they are very fragile and tender, which creates difficulties for long distance trading. In the case of Red Spanish pineapples, these tend to be between orange and red in color and weigh 3 to 6 pounds. Similarly, Red Spanish pineapples are the main kind grown throughout the Caribbean region. Lastly, Queen pineapples are principally grown in South Africa and Australia.

(Read more about Agroforestry and the Need to Facilitate Pollination)