Pineapple

:This article is about the fruit. For the former Our Gang child actor known as Pineapple, see Eugene Jackson

Cultivation History

The pineapple spread from its original area through cultivation, and by the time of Christopher Columbus it grew throughout South and Central America and the Caribbean (West Indies). Columbus may have taken a sample back to Europe. The Spanish introduced it into the Philippines, Hawai'i (introduced in the early 19th century, first commercial plantation 1886) and Guam. The fruit was successfully cultivated in European hothouses beginning in 1720.

Related Topics:
Christopher Columbus - Caribbean (West Indies) - Philippines - Hawai'i - Guam - Hothouse

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Common cultivated varieties include Red Spanish, Hilo, Smooth Cayenne, St. Michael, Kona Sugarloaf, Natal Queen, and Pernambuco. The flesh is very tart, except for varieties such as the Del Monte Gold which are bred for sweetness.

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Southeast Asia dominates world production: in 2001 Thailand produced 1.979 million tonnes, the Philippines 1.618 million tonnes and Brazil 1.43 million tonnes. Total world production in 2001 was 14.220 million tonnes. The primary exporters of fresh pineapples in 2001 were Costa Rica, 322 000 tonnes, Côte d'Ivoire, 188 000 tonnes and the Philippines, 135 000 tonnes.

Related Topics:
2001 - Thailand - Brazil - Costa Rica - Côte d'Ivoire

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In commercial farming flowering can be artificially induced, and the early harvesting of the main fruit can encourage the development of a second crop of smaller fruits. Every pineapple has the exact same number of hexagonal sections on it, no matter the size or shape.

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