Native to South American forests, the pineapple (Ananas comosus)
is a member of the bromeliad family, thought to have originated
in a wild Amazon species which had edible but seedy fruit. Native
peoples grew pineapple by planting offshoots and crowns, and likely
distributed it throughout tropical Central and South America. The
Carib Indians introduced the pineapple to various Caribbean islands,
where it was first seen by a European – Christopher Columbus
– on Guadeloupe in 1493. After being taken back to Europe
by the Spanish, its propagation then spread to various Pacific islands
by later Spanish and English explorations.
The first commercial plantation was established in Oahu, Hawaii,
in 1885. The Hawaiian Islands produced most of the world’s
pineapple until the 1960s, when urbanization and scarce labor supply
forced transfer to the Philippines. Today, pineapple is grown in
all climatically suitable countries, with Southeast Asia leading
world production.
Description:
Pineapple grows one fruit per plant. The cone-shaped fruit is
actually a multiple of berries formed by the fusion of adjacent
flowers on the spike. Many different species have evolved from the
principle cultivar, the Smooth Cayenne, noted for its large, juicy
fruit and the most important species worldwide. Bedemco offers pineapple
products which are all natural with no added sugar, additives or
preservatives.
Pineapple is a good source of vitamin C, with a typical serving
providing about 20% of the recommended daily adult intake. Pineapple
also contains bromelain, an enzyme thought to combat heart disease
and arthritis among other illnesses. Researchers suspect it interferes
with the synthesis of inflammatory substances in the body.
Harvest:
In Central America, pineapple is harvested continually throughout
the year. Bedemco’s pineapple varieties have been carefully
selected for their taste and sweetness, and are dried using geo-thermal
energy generated by underground volcanic heat and pressure channeled
to tunnel driers. This all natural dried pineapple is thus a 100%
environmentally friendly product.
Types & Sizes:
Natural with no additives or preservatives – Rings &
Tidbits
Origin: