I toiled at Dole Pineapple Cannery for three high school summers as a trimmer. It's amazing how good I got with a knife. That's when I decided that I really wanted to go to college and not have to stay there. I also never wanted to see or eat another fresh pineapple. Just smelling a fresh pineapple puts a line of sweat at my forehead hairline.
Lately however we've noticed that pineapples have gotten really sweet in Hawaii and non-acidic. I could even eat a few without a problem. Art's cousin is retired from Dole so he's able to get a discount and brings pineapples for us every so often.
Now we've started planting the crowns. When KC came to Hawaii she couldn't wait to harvest one. It was a little hard to pick so KC had to push and pull at it to get it off the mother crown.
When I cut it and had our son-in-law try it, he was really surprised at how sweet it was. The ones we harvest ourselves are even sweeter because we let it fully ripen. Farmers can't let it ripen all the way because they're supposed to be more fragile and could easily rot.
Once picked, pineapples will not ripen further. You should cut it within a couple of days. If you refrigerate it, it could probably last a week.
Perhaps it's because we've let our fruit fully ripen, but I found some seeds inside. What a surprise.
Of course, now Art wants to try planting the seeds to see what happens. We'll also plant that crown we've got rooting in water.
We had the fresh pineapple over some vanilla ice cream last night and I swear the fruit was as sweet as the ice cream.
I didn't sweat at all!
Lately however we've noticed that pineapples have gotten really sweet in Hawaii and non-acidic. I could even eat a few without a problem. Art's cousin is retired from Dole so he's able to get a discount and brings pineapples for us every so often.
When I cut it and had our son-in-law try it, he was really surprised at how sweet it was. The ones we harvest ourselves are even sweeter because we let it fully ripen. Farmers can't let it ripen all the way because they're supposed to be more fragile and could easily rot.
Once picked, pineapples will not ripen further. You should cut it within a couple of days. If you refrigerate it, it could probably last a week.
Perhaps it's because we've let our fruit fully ripen, but I found some seeds inside. What a surprise.
Of course, now Art wants to try planting the seeds to see what happens. We'll also plant that crown we've got rooting in water.
We had the fresh pineapple over some vanilla ice cream last night and I swear the fruit was as sweet as the ice cream.
I didn't sweat at all!
How lovely! I've never had any success growing pineapple crowns though I keep trying:-) It's good for KC to see food growing.
ReplyDeleteThis pineapple was grown in a large pot and it still did well. We were rather amazed.
DeleteBlend your fresh pineapple with vanilla sherbet and add vodka!
ReplyDeleteVanilla sherbet? I've never heard of that. I'd love to try some.
DeleteHow awesome that you grew your own pineapple!! Looks yummy!!
ReplyDeleteYum. The fresh pineapple does sound yummy.
ReplyDeleteI cannot even imagine growing my own pineapple, do you have a garden Kay, like vegetables or anything like that, I was just wondering,
ReplyDeleteWe have very little yard space. I have a small herb garden along the fence with rosemary, green onions, sage, flowers and pineapple. My mother raises a whole bunch of orchids in a small green house and we've got the three papaya trees. Not much room for anything else, I'm afraid. I miss the larger yard we had in Illinois.
DeleteI can't eat fresh pineapple because of the acid, it makes my tongue sore. it sure does look good, though. I've never seen a pineapple actually growing before!
ReplyDeleteMany of Oahu's pineapples and the Maui Gold have been bred to be LOW acid. The difference is incredible. I could hardly believe it the first time I had it. I depends on so many factors. Mom swears it's her nurturing and fertilizing that makes ours even sweeter.
DeleteWow Kay -- I didn't know you could plant the crown. I've purchased and/or shipped the Maui Gold when in Lahaina. I don't know if it's the type within the species or if it's just picked later, but they are very sweet and don't cause that acidic sore tongue. Glad your personal crop has the sweet version. DrumMajor
ReplyDeletegood morning Kay~ i know what you mean about not wanting to eat pineapples again after working at Dole for so long. i was the same way with McDonald's for a long time. i was so sick of their hamburgers and now that time has passed i can eat there again. i think it's cool you're going to replant the pineapple crown & seeds. looks like KC is having fun in the garden trying to pull up the pineapple. glad you're enjoying a riper crop of pineapple with your garden. here's to continued success... have a great day~
ReplyDeleteMmmm! I think this qualifies as one of the good things from your side of the fence, from your previous post. I bet that KC will have that memory for a long time of picking a pineapple in her grandparents garden!
ReplyDeleteI almost fainted in Dole Cannery while standing in the hot long line during employment season (with a friend who applied), so I never wanted to apply there myself years later. Also if I recall correctly, the pineapple industry in Hawaii was starting to decline. Kids just a few years older always had worked in the fields picking pineapple or in the cannery. But by the time I turned 15 nobody I knew worked there. I think you had to go to Lanai to pick pineapple.
ReplyDeleteAwww but the memories a pineapple evokes. We buy pineapple every week at Costco. We stock up canned pineapple too, great with cottage cheese. Now, though I will think of the less glamorous, repugnant side to pineapple and all the people who must purposely avoid buying the wonderful fruit;)
L. from W.
Sounds lovely, Kay! I haven't had fresh pineapple in a long time, usually buying canned pineapple chunks from Costco.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I wonder if the pineapples have recently been bred to take out some of the acidity? i don't eat pineapple because I always have an allergic reaction. My tongue gets sores on it. It is good though. Maybe I should try some really fresh pineapple like you did. That would mean I would have to come to Hawaii to do so. That would make it a win/win situation.
ReplyDeleteYum. I have trouble with the acid in pineapple, even got black tongue on my one visit to the Islands, but yours sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteFor me it was the strawberry cannery, scooping dirt and rotten berries and bugs off the belt before they went into the cans. Such fun.
My friends gave me a pineapple, watermelon, lychee nuts, and mango recently so I made a fruit cocktail. When preparing the pineapple, I didn't frustrate myself as I used to do by trying to get every smidgin of fruit. I just cut out the really good part and threw the rest away. That methos sure wastes a lot though. As you report, the pineapple was sweet and delicious. Now I've saved the top and set it out to dry. Don't know what to do with it after that. The fruit cocktail or compote was delicious, and it was "anchored" by the pineapple. Still, those old jobs at Dole must have been real work, but it was honest work. A bad experience can be a good experience in this crazy world we live in.
ReplyDeleteI clicked my mouse in my post and the whole thing disappeared! I can now only reproduce the essence of my deathless words.
ReplyDeleteTo make a long story story short, I made a fruit cocktail recently, and the pineapple was delicious, not problematical at all. I only harvested the really good part and didn't frustrate myself by trying to get every last smidgin. This made short work of what used to be a big pain. Chopping is fun, scraping not so much. Working in the Dole factory must have been tough but honest. A bad experience can be a good experience in this crazy world we live in.
Looks like your comment didn't disappear. It posted. :-)
DeleteYour fruit cocktail sounds wonderful. I should do a demonstration post on how to cut a pineapple so you don't waste so much. Art says he'll take pictures next time I cut one.
Our pineapples down here are very sweet too. A little smaller, but very good.
ReplyDeleteinteresting to see the crown rooting, I couldn't picture it before! Your pineapples sound wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI agree that pinapple is less acidic than it used to be! I love pinapple but for years could not eat fresh because of the sores I would get. But now, I can often eat it with no problems and I am glad. I know a bad working environment can make things less appealing. I worked in a pie shop for years, I hoped it would make me like pies less but instead I like them more. I guess the job was too fun :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd jump at the chance to work at a pie shop over a pineapple factory ANY day!
DeleteOh how I love fresh pineapple! We have had it in the Caribbean and I couldn't get enough of it. My mouth is watering now...Sweet photo of KC harvesting the pineapple!
ReplyDeleteNothing is sweeter than fresh pineapple. I grew them in Florida and miss them here.
ReplyDeleteNow I have to settle for frozen for my smoothies. Still good.
Hi Kay! I just heard that you can plant the crown of a pineapple to grow another one. I never knew that. I must try it. So interesting that you just posted on the same topic. Do you think your life is as interesting as it sounds? You always have the greatest posts about the everyday things you do and it is always such a pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind, Joyce. Thank you so much! Is my life that interesting? I think it's pretty ordinary, but it suits me.
Deleteinteresting...I love ripe pineapple-I wonder how it got its name?
ReplyDeleteI did read on Wikipedia that the pineapple got its name from the fact that an early discoverer thought it looked like a pine cone.
DeleteThe pineapple is a traditional symbol of hospitality, eben where they are not grown. I don't know why that is. I stayed in a B & B in Rochester, New York, and they had a big pineapple sculpture posted for hospitality.
Delete" That's when I decided that I really wanted to go to college and not have to stay there. "
ReplyDeleteYes, me too. This is why kids should understand what work is.
What a comprehensive post about pineapple.
You make me want to try growing on the lanai!
Aloha from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
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It must be wonderful to harvest your own fruit!. Pineapple is called ananas in Dutch, with every letter pronounced . The "a"is pronounced as "a" in father.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit and comment. You know Vashti was right. The king was drunk and so were all his friends, when he wanted his wife to display herself for these drunken men. Of course she refused. So the king lost his face and sent her away.
Women were nothing at the time. We are lucky to live in an other time.
Have a great week. Friday I am leaving for Australia, so maybe there is also pineapple on the menu!
I love Australia and NZ! Have a terrific time, Wil!
DeleteI love pineapple Kay and didn't realize you could grow it as you have. I am always learning something here. Thanks Kay
ReplyDeleteAloha all of Kay's readers stuck in other places. Take Home Maui has a website, and you can get Maui gold by the case or fewer, shipped to your non-Hawaiian place. I've used them for many trips. If you want papaya, you have to buy it by the case, not individually, due to agriculture and shipping regulations. Very big and tasty. I froze some cut up papaya. Little bags of sunshine in the midst of a snowy winter. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea. Hmmmm... must be expensive though, hunh?
DeleteHow wonderful. How long does it take to get fruit? We grilled some the other night...yummy!
ReplyDeleteIt takes about a year and half to get fruit from a crown. My mother does fertilize and nurture it.
DeleteOh my visits to Hawaii I have to carry pineapples home with me.....just something about their fresh wonderful flavor and the smell.....yum!
ReplyDeleteIce cream and pineapple sounds great.
ReplyDelete