Pineapple History

Pineapples (Ananas cosmosus) are believed to have originated from central and south America (the west Indies) in which it is believed that Natives of South and Central America grew and distributed the pineapples (1). When Christopher Columbus took a voyage to Central and South America in 1493, he took the fruit to Queen Isabella and the catholic sovereign, king Fernand (2). The Spaniards that accompanied him on the voyage named the Fruit Piña (3). On the other hand, the English characterized the fruit as a queen-pine fruit, and considering how sweet pine fruit was, the English added “apple” to pine. Following the process of being brought to Europe in the 1600s, its popularity skyrocketed almost immediately after its arrival. After that, the crop spread to Australia, India, and Africa.

Nevertheless, despite the rapidity with which it spread in the years immediately following its discovery and the ease with which it was introduced into tropical European nations all over the world, the pineapple did not emerge as a significant agricultural product until the last half century. The most recent data indicates that the Philippines, Costa Rica, and Brazil were the top three pineapple-producing countries in the world in 2020. In that year, the Philippines made 2.7 million metric tons of pineapples. About 27.82 million metric tons of pineapples were produced globally that year (4).

Uses and Nutritional value of pineapple

Pineapple is a well-known fruit with a distinctive flavor that contains a wide range of volatile compounds, although only in trace amounts and complex mixtures. It is ranked as the third most consumed fruit in the world. Consumers get it prepared in various canned forms, including chunks, dice, slices, juice, pineapple fruit salads, sugar syrup, alcoholic beverages, citric acid, chips, and pineapple puree. Its basic components include water, carbohydrates, sugars, Vitamins A, C, and carotene, as well as a reviving balance of sugar and acid, and it is a rich source of vitamin C and organic acids. In addition, it has a revitalizing balance of sugar and acid (5).

Pineapple is also high in minerals and vitamins, providing various health advantages (6). Some of the notable benefits of pineapple include but are not limited to.

  1. Reducing the risk of diabetes and cerebral vascular diseases.
  2. Regulating emotional stability and strengthening bine growth.
  3. It also has microbial activities.
  4. Healing bowel movement and gastrointestinal function.
  5. Used as an anti-inflammatory due to the high content of bromelain.
  6. Antioxidant activities and monitoring nervous system function.
  7. Digestion improvement and cardioprotective agent.

Other uses 

Farmers are also currently utilizing pineapple waste to produce animal feed. Although the higher moisture content of pineapple leftovers makes it hard to use them to make animal feed, researchers have found ways to reduce the moisture by drying the leftovers in the sun and using absorbents like wheat and maize flour, which they then mix into animal feed with satisfactory results (7).

References

  1. Okihiro,G.Y. (2009). Pineapple culture: A history of the tropical and template zone.https://books.google.com/
  2. Corner,K. (2013). Pineapple: A global history.https://books.google.com/
  3. USDA.(n.d). Pineapple fact sheet. https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/school-nutrition/pdf/fact-sheet-pineapple.pdf
  4. Statista.(2020). Leading countries in pineapple production worldwide in 2020.https://www.statista.com/statistics/298517/global-pineapple-production-by-leading-countries/
  5. Chaudhary V.,Kumar,V. & Singh,K. (2019).Pineapple (Ananas cosmosus) product processing: A review .https://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2019/vol8issue3/PartBQ/8-3-523-131.pdf
  6. Maimunah,M.A., Norhashila,H. & Samsuzana,A.A. (2020).Pineapple (Ananas comosus): A comprehensive review of nutritional values, volatile compounds, health benefits, and potential food products. DOI:doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109675},
  7. Makinde, O.A., Odeyinka, S.M & Ayandiran, S.K. (2011).Simple and quick method for recycling pineapple waste into animal feed.  www.lrrd.org/lrrd23/9/maki23188.htm

Pineapple History, Uses and Nutritional Value

Pineapples Plant Information and Environmental Requirements

Pineapple Variety Selection

Soil Requirements and Land Preparation for Pineapple

Planting of Pineapple – Pineapple Plant Density

Pineapple Water Needs and Irrigation Systems

Pineapple Fertilization Requirements

Pineapple Flowering, Pollination, and Pruning

Pineapple Crop Protection

Pineapple Harvesting, Handling, Storage, and Selling

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