Global pineapple producer, distributor and marketer highlights the fruit’s rise in popularity
Del Monte Corporation has put the spotlight on one of its key offerings ahead of International Pineapple Day on 27 June.
As one of the leading vertically integrated producers, distributors and marketers of fresh and shelf-stable pineapple, the company has highlighted the history of the yellow, spiky fruit and detailed how it has grown to become a fruitbowl favourite.
Globally, pineapple production has grown by nearly 43 per cent, from around 21mn tonnes to nearly 30mn tonnes — an expansion driven by improved practices across farming, trade infrastructure and global logistics Del Monte said.
Consumers are also consuming more pineapples today, with an average of 8.5 consumed per person per year in the US, compared to the 1970s when it was only 0.3kg.
Del Montes said the launch of its noticeably sweeter Gold Extra Sweet pineapple in 1996 was one of the milestones in consumer acceptance of the fruit, and it has since introduced its Honeyglow, Rubyglow and Pinkglow pineapples to enhance the category.
Senior vice president of sales, marketing and product management, Danny Dumas said behind every single fruit there’s a farmer, field worker, logistics team and buyer that work together to bring a perfectly ripe pineapple from a farm in Costa Rica, Kenya or the Philippines to the kitchen table.
As demand continues to surge, growers have diversified where pineapples are grown, adapting to various geographical regions for production, like Del Monte Corporation’s long-standing pineapple operation in Kenya. Growers have also achieved consistent quality among pineapples at scale, investing in post-harvest handling and cold chain infrastructure that transformed pineapples from a seasonal indulgence into a year-round category that consumers can rely on wherever, whenever.
“What excites me most is where innovation is taking this fruit,” added Dumas. “Demand for fresh-cut pineapple is increasing because consumers want convenience without compromise, but they’re also seeking flavour varieties that excite an array of senses, not just their palates.”
