Interesting facts about the pineapple
- The word pineapple comes from the Spanish word piña and in 1398 its meaning was pine cone.
- The Europeans discovered the pineapple in 1493 on the Caribbean Island of Guadalupe.
- The first attempts of the Europeans to cultivate the fruit were unsuccessful because it only grew in tropical climate. By the end of 16th century the Portuguese and Spanish discoverers had introduced the pineapple in their Asian, African and Pacific Ocean colonies.
- Since the pineapples would perish quickly, the fresh fruit was rare to the American colonists. The candied pineapple and the fresh fruit were a symbol of prestige and high class.
- The pineapple was cultivated in Hawaii in the 18th century and this is the only American state where it continues to be grown today.
- Other countries that grow pineapples, predominantly for trade, include Thailand, the Philippines, China, Brazil and Mexico.
- It takes nearly three years for the pineapple to become ripe.
- Each part of the pineapple is used in the canning industry. The skin, middle and the flesh are used to produce a variety of products, including vinegar, alcoholic drinks and animal food.