Pinkglow™ Pineapple
Inventory, ea : 0
This item was last sold on : 05/17/24
Description/Taste
Pinkglow™ pineapples are small to medium fruits with an oval to cylindrical shape. It is important to note that the fruit will not have a characteristic crown of pointed, stiff, green leaves, as the crowns are removed before consumer purchase to reuse for planting. The skin is firm, waxy, and textured, comprised of hexagonal sections with variegated yellow, orange, and green hues. Underneath the surface, the flesh is pale pink with an aqueous, soft, semi-fibrous, and tender consistency. In the center of the flesh, there is also a small, central core. Pinkglow™ pineapples are aromatic and have low acidity, emitting a pleasant, fruity and subtly floral flavor with a lingering candy-like sweetness.
Seasons/Availability
Pinkglow™ pineapples are available year-round in limited quantities.
Current Facts
Pinkglow™ pineapples, botanically classified as Ananas comosus, are a rare, pink-fleshed variety belonging to the Bromeliaceae family. The cultivar was created by Del Monte Fresh Produce in the early 21st century and was officially released to consumers in October 2020. Pinkglow™ pineapples are cultivated in “ultra-limited” quantities, as it takes approximately two years to grow the variety, and each pineapple is harvested by hand to ensure quality. The fruits obtain their rosy tone from carotenoids, specifically lycopene, which are pigments naturally found in the flesh that give fruits their pink-red hue. Pinkglow™ pineapples have been bioengineered to turn off the enzyme that usually converts lycopene into beta carotene, which gives the common pineapple its yellow coloring. Once this enzyme is muted, lycopene remains in the flesh, allowing the pineapples to develop a unique, pink-saturated appearance. Pinkglow™ pineapples are branded as a luxury fruit, known as the rare “Jewel of The Jungle,” and are shipped in an ornate gift box with a certificate of authenticity to exemplify that it is one-of-a-kind.
Nutritional Value
Pinkglow™ pineapples are a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and strengthens the immune system. The fruits also provide lower amounts of manganese, potassium, and folate and contain high amounts of carotenoids, including lycopene, which are phytonutrients that give the flesh its colored hue.
Applications
Pinkglow™ pineapples are best suited for fresh applications as their sweet flavor and uniquely colored flesh are showcased when consumed straight, out-of-hand. The rosy-hued pineapples can be substituted for common pineapple varieties in any recipe and have a sweeter, candy-like taste. Pinkglow™ pineapples can be sliced and displayed on appetizer platters, skewered with other fruits, or cubed and mixed into fruit salads. They can also be chopped and stirred into salsa, lightly grilled and layered onto roasted meats, pureed into sauces and marinades, or incorporated into desserts and sorbets. Beyond food preparations, Pinkglow™ pineapples can be blended into smoothies, juiced into fruit punches, or placed in sparkling water. When juiced, the liquid retains a pink-red hue, which can be used as a twist on classic cocktails, including pina coladas and margaritas. The excess scraps from slicing the fruits can also be used to make homemade pineapple vinegar. Pinkglow™ pineapples pair well with herbs such as mint, rosemary, cilantro, and basil, bell peppers, meats such as fish, poultry, beef, and pork, fruits such as strawberries, mangoes, coconut, citrus, and bananas, vanilla, and dried hibiscus. Whole Pinkglow™ pineapples will keep at room temperature for 1 to 3 days and in the refrigerator for 4 to 7 days. Sliced fruit pieces will keep 1 to 3 days when stored in a sealed container in the fridge.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Pinkglow™ pineapples are famously shipped without their crowns as a symbol of sustainability. In the past decade, consumer focuses have shifted towards environmentally conscious products to protect and preserve the Earth. In conjunction with this movement, Del Monte Fresh Produce has sought to develop new items to meet consumer demand while offering transparency in their cultivation methods. Pinkglow™ pineapples are grown on farms in South-Central Costa Rica, an area known for its tropical climate and fertile volcanic soil. The farms in partnership with Del Monte are also officially certified as carbon neutral, earning the label in 2015 through SCS Global Services, meaning the farms are not contributing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This partnership has created a sustainable method to produce Pinkglow™ pineapples, and waste is further reduced by reusing the green crowns to grow the next season of pineapples. Del Monte Fresh hopes to increase the quantity of Pinkglow™ pineapples over time using this recycled crown method.
Geography/History
Pinkglow™ pineapples were created through Del Monte Fresh Produce, a global producer and distributor, and were first released to consumers in October 2020. The variety was conceptualized in 2005, and it took over fifteen years to fully develop the pink-fleshed fruits. Pinkglow™ pineapples are grown on carbon neutral farms in Costa Rica, and the pineapple crowns are reused to plant crops for the following cycle. In 2016, Pinkglow™ pineapples were examined by the United States Food and Drug Administration and were deemed as safe and natural as regular yellow-fleshed pineapples for consumption. Del Monte also received permit approval from the Costa Rican government to export the variety in 2019. Today Pinkglow™ pineapples are exclusively available online through partners listed on the Del Monte website and are shipped directly to consumers in the United States.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Pinkglow™ Pineapple. One
is easiest, three is harder.| My Recipes |
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Pink-a-Colada |
