Pineapples are native to Brazil and were first introduced to Hawaii in the early 1800's. Since the fruit did not ship very well to the West Coast, Captain John Kidwell and James Dole built canneries in the late 1800's. Pineapples are so versatile and can be eaten fresh, canned, frozen, or used in many types of baked goods, as well as being Hawaii's favorite juice.Pineapples are in the Bromeliad family and grow to 3 to 4 feet tall and spread at least that wide. They can fruit for up to 30 years but commercial plantations harvest from two to three year old plants and start replanting every two years. The top of the pineapple can be used to grow another plant, but the suckers arising from the lower plant stem are faster growers and produce another fruit within 18 months. The first fruits produced are largest from each plant, becoming a little smaller with each successive harvest.

Ideal growing conditions are in a well-drained sandy soil, rich in organic matter, and with abundant moisture. They are often grown on sloping land to aid in rapid drainage and prefer sunny places below 1,000 feet in elevation. Plants are spaced 2 feet apart in the row with 5 to 6 feet between rows. Black plastic sheets are often used in the row under pineapples to reduce evaporation and weed growth, as the leaves are sharply pointed at the ends. Blanketing the ground with magazines and catalogs is a favorite mulch of mine around pineapple plants.

Fertilize regularly in small amounts with a balanced fertilizer with minors. Foliar fertilizers are effective. Avoid strong herbicides and avoid getting fertilizer in the growing crown, as pineapples will burn.

The common commercial pineapple variety is called 'Smooth Cayenne.' It bears throughout the year and is very juicy with that pleasant sweet-tart, refreshing flavor. An excellent dessert quality variety is called 'Sugarloaf.' It is almost exclusively eaten fresh because it is so sweet, juicy, and acid-free. If it is dried it tastes like candy. There is also a sweet, acid-free, yellow-fleshed dessert variety called 'Hawaiian Gold.'