Where do Pineapples Come From
The pineapple is a tropical plant that produces sweet-sour fruit of the same name. It was given its name because the fruit looks a little bit like a pine cone. The pineapple fruit can be eaten fresh, but is also available as a juice or canned product. It is also used in many desserts such as cake, fruit salad, ice cream, jelly, yogurt and candy. Pineapple is a good source of vitamin c and manganese. It also contains the enzyme bromelain, which is reputed to have a variety of health benefits. If you want to know where this popular fruit comes from, keep reading to find out.
Where do pineapples come from?
It is believed that the original pineapple plant originated from South America. The exact location is unknown, but it is thought to be somewhere between southern Brazil and Paraguay. The natives of this region are thought to have spread this plant throughout the continent of South America. The plant eventually reached the Caribbean and Christopher Columbus discovered the plant here in 1493 and brought it back to Europe. The Spanish introduced the pineapple to the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Guam and Hawaii. They also attempted to grow the fruit in hothouses and pineapple pits in Europe.
Today, the largest producers of pineapples are the Philippines, Thailand, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Chile, Brazil and India. The largest exporters of the fruit are Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire and the Philippines.
Related Articles
Pat
I always thought that Pineapples grew in Hawaii? I am trying to be vigilant about purchasing food from the U.S.A. or Canada. I have a can of pineapple and it’s from Thailand. Does Hawaii grow pineapples and if so, can they not process them there or in the U.S.A.??
Tim Bortoli
Pineapples are grown in Hawaii, but there are cheaper sources of pineapples in many other countries (such as Thailand) which are generally used for canned and processed foods. Unfortunately, it all comes down to cost (for consumers and the manufacturers).