The tropical pineapple is the most economically important plant in the Americas. Having gained its name for its resemblance to a pine cone, the pineapple serves a variety of purposes ranging from ornamentation and cuisine. The pineapple is a multiple fruit comprised of coalesced berries. Multiple fruits are formed when clusters of flowers come together and form a singular mass. Figs and certain varieties of oranges are examples of multiple fruits.
Pineapples have a sweet-sour flavor that has earned the fruit the favor of consumers. The taste has earned the fruit a special place in dessert recipes as well as a variety of other healthy dishes. Pineapples have also been used as the medium through which very detailed food sculptures are created.
The popularity of the Pineapple has pushed it well into the realm of commercial farming. Southeast Asia is home to the 
majority of the world’s pineapple production. Thailand alone produces more than 1 million tons of pineapples every season. Commercial agriculture companies are able to meet demand by artificially inducing the flowering process. This often results in pineapples of diminutive size, but can be removed quickly from its host plant to make way for new growth.
Pineapple production is highly industrialized to ensure that yields are both quick and numerous. A myriad of chemicals are used to keep the plants and their fruit free of disease and pests, but these chemicals are absorbed into the soil, this can lead to the fruit becoming contaminated and can cause widespread sickness if the chemicals reach local water supplies.
Organic farming methods are not favored in pineapple production because the flowering process can take up to 24 months if left to the course of nature. Despite the time it takes to grow organic pineapples, these are often the most flavorsome variety. Organic pineapples are high in manganese, dietary fiber and protein. The juice can be used for a nearly endless assortment of recipes.
Check out these babies featured in our organic fruit of the month club for August!
