The pineapple is a tasty, juicy and delectable piece of tropical fruit both in its fresh and processed form. But have you ever wondered how it moves from being a small, hard-shelled bump on a tree to a succulent piece of food on a dinner plate? This journey begins with cultivation, processing and finally transport before reaching a dinner plate sometime thousands of miles away. Let’s take a closer look at this fascinating process.
Cultivation
The pineapple, or Ananas comosus, is a member of the Bromeliad family and originates in South America. While wild varieties still exist in many parts of the tropical world, the export quality of pineapple is cultivated in a variety of countries including Brazil, Hawaii, Thailand, Costa Rica, and the Philippines.
When it comes to farming pineapple, produced by commercial operations both for local trade as well as export, farmers begin to propagate new generations of plants from crowns (clusters of leaves) from mature fruits in order to maintain the desired variety of pineapple they are growing.
These pineapple plants are usually shade-grown, with wild varieties of bamboo or other fast-growing trees being planted around the plot of land to protect the pineapple plants from intense sunlight during peak hours. Although soil health is also an important factor in pineapple cultivation, the surrounding tree cover protects the pineapple-fruit from excessive sun exposure, reduces the plant’s water requirements and lowers pest levels, thus improving the overall growth of the plants.
Once suitable soil is prepared, the “setts” - those are crowns from fully ripened pineapples - are planted between 15 and 20 cm apart. To ensure good regeneration, the farmers make sure to keep the soil loose, moist and far from weeds.
In the first year, plants are watered every two days, and are not fertilized until six or seven months afterward, at which point a high-nitrogen fertilizer is applied.
It takes 12-18 months before farmers start to see results. The pineapple plant needs warm and humid conditions to thrive. During the fruiting stage, farmers must water the plants frequently and carefully measure the nutrient levels of the soil.
Harvesting
In countries such as Costa Rica, the harvest season lasts all year long, with fruits maturing every month. There, pineapples can be harvested as young as 5 months old, but normally mature in 10-14 months.
To determine if a pineapple is mature and ready to be harvested, farmers select a few fruits to check the weight and measure the sugar, acidity and vitamin C content. If the criteria are met, farmers are ready to begin harvesting the pineapple trees.
Pineapple is a delicate fruit that needs to be hand-picked in order to be visually inspected for its sugar and acid levels. The leaves and tops of the fruit should be bright green, with a nice yellow or golden color. To be safe, farmers inspect the fruit for any fungi, diseases or pest damages - both on the outside and the inside - before collecting it.
After the chosen pineapple is carefully cut off from its stalk (leaving a minimum of 2 cm of base), harvested pineapple is usually placed in the sun with its outer leaves still on and protected from the elements.
Processing
From the field, freshly harvested and sun-ripened pineapple is taken to the pineapple-processing facility where thousands of tropical fruits continuously flow in. The pineapple is prepared by knocking off its leaves and skin, and then cut into quarters. At this point, machines sort and grade the pineapple according to its size and quality.
Afterwards, the pineapple is placed in a machine known as a binder, where hot juices are added to the chunks and transformed into cubes, slices or halves. At this stage, the pineapple pieces are inspected and sorted according to the customer’s requirements.
The final process includes packing the pineapple into airtight barrels, tins or boxes for transportation or frozen for later use. The packed or mini-frozen pineapple is sent to port for shipment.
Transportation
When it comes to transporting pineapple, packing is essential as it ensures the fruit reaches its destination safely. To achieve this, food-grade packaging materials are used, such as cans and barrels, cardboard boxes, and plastic containers.
These materials are ideal for protecting and shipping pineapple as they are strong and provide insulation against temperature variations. For countries such as Costa Rica, fresh pineapple is packed in the ready-to-eat manner, consisting of heads, quarters, and slices.
Ultimately, the pineapple is loaded onto a seaship, which takes it to its destination port. This can mean a voyage of 15 to 21 days, depending on its destination. For example, pineapple being shipped from Costa Rica to Amsterdam takes approximately 15 days.
Reaching the Destination Plate
Once the pineapple reaches its destination port, it is inspected by customs and agriculture officials and then shipped to retailers or supermarkets. This can mean a further journey of road haulage, rail, or airfreight, depending on the destination.
For example, when pineapple is sent domestically within the United States, it is often moved by refrigerated trucks a few hundred kilometers to its final destination in a matter of days. On the other hand, a pineapple shipment from Costa Rica to the UK would take an international charter flight, taking anywhere from 2 to 7 days.
In either case, an important aspect of the journey is the preservation of the pineapple during transit. This is done through an array of methods, including vacuum-sealing, quick freezing and temperature-controlled transportation.
Finally, after travelling thousands of miles and many days, the pineapple has reached its final destination — the shop. From here, it travels the last leg of its journey to its rightful place on a plate in the home. It can be eaten fresh, used to make a delicious sweet or savory dish, or even crafty creations that put this much-loved fruit to good use.
Conclusion
From the fields of Costa Rica to a dinner table thousands of miles away, a pineapple is a fascinating piece of fruit that winds its way through the stages of cultivation, processing and transport. Though much of the journey is mechanical, none of it would be possible without the hard work of the farmers, pickers and other industry professionals who work tirelessly in order to bring this delicious fruit to your plate.
