Pineapples (Ananas comosus) – find manufacturers and suppliers

The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical fruit known for its sweet taste, juiciness and high vitamin C content.

It is not only a popular fruit, but is also used in the food industry and in cosmetics.

Below are the properties, varieties and producing countries of pineapples, the possible uses and their health benefits:

Properties and varieties of pineapple:

1. The pineapple is a rosette-like plant with a growth height of 1-1.5 meters.
2. It belongs to the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae)
3. It consists of many small individual fruits that combine to form a large collective fruit.
   The leaves are elongated, thorny and leathery.
4. The skin is thick, prickly and bright yellow to orange with a green tuft.
5. The flesh is yellow, juicy and tastes sweet and sour.
6. Seeds are usually not present in cultivated varieties.
7. The pineapple is a non-climacteric fruit, which means that it does not ripen after harvesting.

Popular pineapple varieties are:

1. Smooth Cayenne is juicy, sweet with a high acidity. This variety is the most widely cultivated in the world.
2. Queen Victoria tastes particularly sweet, with golden yellow flesh. This variety is quite small.
3. Red Spanish have a firmer flesh. They are often used in processing.
4. MD-2 (Gold Pineapple) is very sweet and has a low acidity. This variety has a long shelf life.

The most important pineapple producing countries are:

Originally, pineapples come from South America, particularly from regions that now belong to Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina.

1. The largest producer and exporter of pineapples is Costa Rica. The country is the main supplier to Europe and the USA.
2. The Philippines is a major producer for the Asian market.
3. Thailand is the leading exporter of canned pineapple.
4. Indonesia is also an important producer in South East Asia.
5. India is also a major producer but has strong domestic demand, so fewer goods are exported.
6. Brazil is the largest producer in South America.
7. Kenya is the leading producer in Africa with very sustainable production.
8. Colombia has growing exports to North America and Europe.
9. China and Vietnam are important growing countries for the Asian market. They export little to Europe or the USA.

Pineapple uses:

Pineapple is a versatile fruit with numerous uses in different areas:

1. Culinary use:
Eaten fresh directly as a snack or in fruit salads.
For preparing drinks in juices, cocktails (e.g. Pina Colada) and smoothies.
For cooking, especially in curry dishes, in sauces or as a garnish for meat dishes.
For baking in cakes and tarts or in desserts as ice cream, sorbets or jams.
Dried pineapple is popular as a snack or as an ingredient in muesli and energy bars.

2. Health & medicine:
Bromelain is an enzyme in pineapples with anti-inflammatory and digestive effects.
They are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and minerals and thus strengthen the immune system.
They have a digestive effect by supporting the digestion of proteins.
They are used in skin care in masks and peelings for skin regeneration and cleansing.

3. Cosmetics & body care:
They are used in skin care in masks and peelings for skin regeneration and cleansing.
In shampoos and hair care products, they can help to reduce dandruff and strengthen the hair.
In lip balms, they provide moisture and flavor.

4. Household & decoration:
The sweet scent can make for a pleasant indoor air.
Whole fruits or hollowed-out pineapples for table decoration, e.g. as bowls for food and drinks.

5. Industry & sustainability:
Piñatex is a vegan leather substitute material made from pineapple fibers and is used in vegan textiles .
Peels and leaves are used as organic fertilizer or for animal feed.
In some countries, pineapple is used to make fermented drinks.

Health benefits of pineapple:

• Contains bromelain, an enzyme that aids protein digestion.
• Supports the immune system thanks to its high vitamin C content.
• Is anti-inflammatory and can help with sore muscles or joint pain
• Pineapples are low in calories and refreshing, ideal for a healthy diet

Note: Unripe pineapple can irritate the stomach as it contains a lot of bromelain.

Pineapple is an exotic fruit with many uses - whether as a snack, in cocktails or as an ingredient in savory dishes. When choosing, you should pay attention to quality, ripeness and sustainable cultivation methods.

Below you will find an overview of the most important criteria to look out for when buying pineapple:

When buying pineapples, there are several factors to consider to ensure quality, freshness and economy.

• There are several varieties of pineapple, but these are the most relevant for the trade:
• Smooth Cayenne are very sweet, juicy and have bright yellow flesh.
• MD2 (Golden Sweet) have a high sugar content, low acidity and are very popular in the trade.
• Red Spanish have a firmer flesh which makes this variety suitable for processing.
• Queen Victoria are small and intensely sweet. This makes them ideal for delicatessen.
• The main growing areas are: Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya, Brazil and Colombia.
• Pineapples from Costa Rica are the most popular worldwide because of their sweetness and juiciness.
• Pay attention to the quality characteristics of the fruit:
• Color and ripeness are important:
• A ripe pineapple has a golden yellow to slightly orange skin.
• Green pineapples are often unripe, brown spots indicate overripeness.
• The leaf crown should be green and fresh, not dried out.
• A ripe pineapple smells pleasantly sweet at the base.
• A sour or fermented smell indicates overripeness.
• The fruit should yield to light pressure, but not be too soft.
• Hard pineapples are usually unripe, very soft ones indicate overripeness.
• Tip: If an inner leaf can be easily pulled out of the crown, the pineapple is ripe.
• Optimal transportation takes place at 7-10°C and 85-95% humidity.
• Temperatures below 7°C can cause chilling damage.
• Longer storage reduces the quality, so rapid further processing is recommended.
• Store separately from ethylene-producing fruits such as apples or bananas (prevents over-ripening).
• Prices vary depending on season, origin and quality.
• Direct imports are often cheaper than middlemen.
• Look out for Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic labels for sustainable production.

When buying pineapples, ripeness, origin, transportation conditions and cost-effectiveness are decisive factors. Sustainable purchasing not only ensures quality, but also strengthens responsible supply chains.

Pineapples can be purchased from various suppliers. Comprehensive information about producers and suppliers of pineapples from all over the world can be found on Exportpages.