Pineapple

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Pineapples

The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant and fruit, native to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay. The plant is a bromeliad (family Bromeliaceae), a short, herbaceous perennial with 30 or more trough-shaped and pointed leaves 30–100 cm long, surrounding a thick stem. The leaves of the Smooth Cayenne cultivar mostly lack spines except at the leaf tip, but the Spanish and Queen cultivars have large spines along the leaf margins.

The name

Anasus comes from anana, from the Tupi word for the fruit, anana, meaning "excellent fruit" (this word became the source of the word ananas, which is the word for pineapple in many languages). Comosus means tufted and refers to the stem of the fruit.

Pollinator

The natural pollinator of the pineapple is the Hummingbird.

Fruit

The fruitlets of a pineapple are arranged in two interlocking spirals, eight spirals in one direction, thirteen in the other; each being a Fibonacci number. This is one of many examples of Fibonacci numbers appearing in nature. Pineapples can be found on tropical islands.

At one time, most canned and fresh pineapples were produced on Smooth Cayenne plants. Since about 2000, the most common fresh pineapple fruit found in U.S. and European supermarkets is a low-acid hybrid that was developed in Hawaii in the early 1970s.

Pineapple is commonly used in desserts and other types of fruit dishes, or served on its own. Fresh pineapple is often somewhat expensive as the tropical fruit is delicate and difficult to ship. It will not ripen once harvested, so must be harvested ripe and brought to the consumer without delay. Pineapple is therefore most widely available canned. The pineapple juice has been fermented into an alcoholic beverage commonly called pineapple wine which is a type of fruit wine, most commonly produced in Hawaii. Pineapples are also occasionally used as topping for American pizza.

Truly ripe pineapples are not found in the supermarket because almost all pineapple fruits are harvested at the mature-green stage of maturity. Fruit of the low-acid hybrid, usually containing "gold" in the brand name, are of good and consistent quality. Fruit of the best quality will have a fresh crown and little or no obvious shrinkage or wrinkling of the shell.

Dietary effects

Pineapple contains a proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which digests food by breaking down protein. Pineapple juice can thus be used as a marinade and tenderizer for meat. The enzymes in pineapples can interfere with the preparation of some foods, such as jelly or other gelatin-based desserts. Some have claimed that pineapple has benefits for some intestinal disorders while others claim that it helps to induce childbirth when a baby is overdue. These enzymes can be hazardous to someone suffering from certain protein deficiencies or disorders, such as Ehlers-danlos. It can also be used in savory dishes to enhance digestion.

Pineapple is a good source of manganese, as well as containing significant amounts of vitamin C and Vitamin B1.

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. 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.

Southeast Asia dominates world production: in 2001 Thailand produced 1.979 million tons, the Philippines 1.618 million tons and Brazil 1.43 million tons. 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 tons and the Philippines, 135 000 tons.

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.

The pineapple is an old symbol of hospitality and can often be seen in carved decorations.

The pineapple growth cheat

Get a pineapple and cut the top off. Plant the top in soil, wait a month and it will have rooted.

Image:Ananas.jpg|A pineapple Image:Pineapple display.jpg|Pineapple fruit on display at a supermarket. Image:Pineapple victoria dsc07770.jpg|'Victoria', a cultivar of small, sugary and flavourful pineapples, is particularly popular on Réunion Island. Image:Pineapple.png|Pineapple etching Image:Split ananas cropped.jpg|Split pineapple

External links and references

USDA Hawaii Agricultural Statistics - Pineapple yields 2001-2005
Social History of the Pineapple - a look at the symbolism behind the pineapple
Pineapple Fruit Facts - More information on pineapples.
The price of pineapples - Pesticide pollution in Costa Rica
FAO. Tropical Fruits Commodity Notes, 2003
Francesca Beauman, 'The Pineapple', ISBN 0701176997, publisher Chatto and Windus

Bromeliaceae | Fruit | Tropical agriculture