Pineapple Guide

Pineapples can produce several fruits over successive production cycles in their natural state. However, industrial production requires new plant stock to be planted after each production climate. Depending on the pedoclimatic conditions and varieties, a cycle extends on average over 14 to 20 months. The pineapple cycle is broken down into 3 stages:

1. Sprouts planted and grown (6-7 months)
2. Flowering until harvest (5-6 months)
3. Sprout production for replanting (3-6 months)

The main condition for pineapple cultivation is the optimal temperature of the plantation which cannot fall below 25 degrees Celsius. Such temperature ensures normal plant growth and proper fruit-bearing. Pineapple water requirements are moderate but a regular and consistent supply is preferable for good plant development. Pineapple sprouts are harvested when they reach about 350-550 G. They are sorted by 100 G categories, to bear fruits of staggering size, with the lighter sprouts bearing smaller fruits than heavier sprouts. After planting on prepared soil, sprout growth is boosted with fertilizers and parasite monitoring. Treatments and weed control are added as necessary. 

The harvesting is often done manually. The harvesters pass between the rows and pick the fruit by breaking the stalk or cutting it. The fruits can be placed into harvesting crates or types of backpacks fitted with cells which house each individual fruit. Each row of pineapples is loaded onto trailers and driven to packaging stations. There are two basic modes of transport : air-freight and sea-freight. Transport by air-freight is characterized by the merchandise being grouped together and transported to the airport. The product is then loaded onto air pallets and shipped to recipient markets. Transport by sea-freight is associated with a longer circuit. Pineapples are harvested then taken to packing stations, where they are washed and packed by size. Then they are palletized and pre-cooled to a lower core temperature since transport time is longer. The pallets are taken to the shipping ports and loaded onto polythermal ships or refrigerated containers. The fruits at arrival are taken to the importer’s premises, supermarkets, purchasing centers, or directly to the end customer.

Margin: Producers (24.8%) – Exporters (4.9%) – Importers and Transport companies (14.3%) – Customs (3.7%) – Retailers (42.6%) – Supermarket workers’ wage (9.7%)

The last decade has seen the rise in share of major retailers as these are increasingly looking to buy directly from producers without the help of middlemen (multinational traders).

Most farmers and growers own their farmlands and medium to large farms have their own packing houses and exporter network. The packing house sorts and packs products based on buyers' requests. Most production is done through the National Chamber of Pineapple Producers and Exporters (CANAPEP), where there are about 60 suppliers; most of them are medium to large size and 20-25% are small independent suppliers. Not meeting the order requests rarely happens in the Costa Rican pineapple industry, because Costa Rica's economy depends heavily on the pineapple industry and it is well-supported. Brokers do not play a major role in the value chain. It is possible to employ a broker if a buyer is new to the market, but most of the farms are family-owned with a long history in pineapple farming. Some small players form a co-op to increase pineapple production volume. There is an oligopoly formed by the big three companies: Chiquita, Del Monte, and Dole. They have their own alliances with farmers with set supply programs that are usually set before the harvest season. Also, they have a strong domination in the market. 

Costa Rica is conquering new markets in Asia, Middle East, and Europe. Turkey leads as the main buyer for the last 5 years, showing sustainable growth, with exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis. All emerging countries' exports have shown a fall in export value with the exception of Turkey and Tunisia. Greece has performed well except for 2020.

The graphic below totals the five-year export value per country. Turkey's market share is 45%, followed by Japan and Greece. Efforts will continue to foster market growth in emerging nations.

The below graphic reflects the average market share for a total of five years.

Most of Costa Rica's pineapples are headed to North America (50%) and the EU (39%) with the rest heading to the UK (5%) and other destinations (6%). 

The six main markets represent 88% of total pineapple exports.

As shown in the map provided by CANAPEP (National Chamber of Pineapple Producers), 40,000 Hectares are covered by pineapple plantations distributed in three regions, contributing to the local economy and providing direct jobs to nearly 30,000 people.

Spanish rulers introduced the pineapple to the Philippines in the 19th century. Since then, this tropical fruit has grown to become one of the country’s major crops, in addition to the Philippines having become one of the world’s main pineapple producers. 

Pineapples and their products are the third largest export of the country, after banana and coconut oil. The Philippines produces around 3 million metric tons (MT) of pineapples annually with over 70 thousand hectares (ha) of area planted. The majority of these are found in Mindanao, especially in Northern Mindanao, accounting for 60%, followed by SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato Province, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) with around 30%. Davao, Caraga, and Zamboanga are also key producers in the south. In Luzon, Bicol provides output around 5-6% , while CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon are also key producers.

Harvesting is done year-round, with April to July considered as peak time.

Dried pineapple

• Most of the free water of the fruit is eliminated in this product
• Prepared in chunks or slices for better presentation and make handling easier
• Final moisture is near 5%, and this allows the dried fruit to have a long shelf life

Juice

• Obtained from crushing fruit pieces and proper physical separation of the solids
• Juice must be pasteurized and packed to extend its shelf life and a preservative or refrigerated storage may be used as additional barriers to microbial spoilage
• Packing maybe plastic bottles or bags, coated cans, multi-laminate (plastic, paper, metal foil), or any newer materials

Nectar

• It is the product of blending juice with a certain amount of solids from the pulp containing the same amount of °Brix as the original fruit
• Nectars are prepared by diluting fruit pulp to 30 °Brix
• Methods of preservation and packing are similar to those described for juice

Pulp

• It is the product of the basic processing of peeled pineapple pulp by crushing
• Pulp may be preserved by thermal treatment, by preservatives addition, and proper handling
• Packed in small packages, or in bulk packages for further industrial processing and formulations as ice cream mixes, jellies, jams, sodas, etc.

Juice Price < IQF Price < Fruit Price. This is as pineapples rejected from being exported are sent to made into IQF cubes (but still needs to be firm), and those rejected from there are sent to juicing. 

Smooth Cayenne (Hawaiian)

• Fruit is large; cylindrical, brownish yellow, flat eyes not prominent medium-deep, flesh yellowish, very juicy, sweet, slightly fibrous, aromatic, rich flavor and excellent quality; medium core, fairly inedible; small crown; leaves are long, broad, and generally spineless
• It is good for canning

Queen (Formosa)

• Fruit is small, oblong, slightly tapering, color straw yellow with brown markings; eyes prominent, small and deep; flesh yellowish, tender, crispy, sweet, rich flavor and excellent quality, small core; and small to medium crown
• It is good for the table

Red Spanish (Native Philippine Red)

• Fruit is small to medium, somewhat cone-shaped, and of medium quality
• Eyes are relatively large, and when ripe has a bright, and clear red color
• Fruit has no commercial value
• Mature leaves of this variety are the excellent raw material for piña fibers

Extra Sweet/MD2

• New natural hybrid variety emerged in the 1980s
• Semi-spiny variety established itself due to good yields and low sensitivity to black spots and soil parasites
• Has a mild, sweet flavor and is very popular among consumers

Costa Rica is the leading global producer and exporter of pineapple hybrid variety MD2 also known as golden pineapple. It ranks as the #1 global supplier with a 44% export share and export value of USD 1B in 2019. The MD2 travels well in containers, compared to how airfreight used to be more commonplace before. The pink pineapple recently developed by Del Monte can be considered more like an exotic choice rather than a gamechanger in the marketplace.

The golden pineapple is the most popular variety in the world. It has an almost uniform size, with a cylindrical appearance and an orange-yellow color. The interior is made up of a creamy-yellow color pulp, and depending on its physiological ripeness, it can vary in intensity. The texture of the pulp is fibrous, consistent, semi-hard, and firm to the touch, with a slightly sour and sweet flavor (pH scale: 3.4 - 4.5). The pineapple pulp is aromatic with a crunchy and juicy consistency. The pineapple has high water content and is low in calories while being rich in vitamin C and potassium. It has a rapidly digestible carbohydrate content of 11% which increases as the fruit matures. 

Pineapples are sanitized and wax-coated to protect their quality and improve their shelf life, so they can be consumed several weeks after harvest.

The production is conventional and organic, and it is available year-round with a consistent supply to the international markets. 

As with any agricultural or fresh product, pineapple trading may come with disputes and negotiations. The magnitude of merchandise flows for fresh and processed pineapples is huge which means that there are relatively few disputes. However, the most common issue involves fresh pineapples, especially with regard to their high perishability. The damage is often encountered during the transporting stage. While reefer shipping is generally well managed (thanks to the high-performing polythermal technology), containers do give rise to the occasional incident. A malfunctioning refrigerated unit can lead to qualitative deterioration of the pineapple. In these types of situations, the recipient can commission a joint inquiry to determine the cause of the damage and its cost implications. Sea shipments are usually covered by insurance. Conversely, air-freight shipments are rarely insured due to the short transport time. Disputes that arise from this type of merchandise are often settled amicably between the supplier and customer. If there is a disagreement during the dispute, the parties can always appeal to an arbitration chamber to settle the issue.

Sea freight is the most common mode of transportation used for shipping. The main ports of exit are Davao International Container Terminal and Cagayan de Oro container port. 

Sea:

Pros: Less expensive

Cons: Long transit times aggravated by port congestion and delays

Air-freight: (not common)

Pros: Shorter transit time and fresher fruit conditions

Cons: Very expensive

Document preparation and regulation process are almost the same for both methods. Airfreight from Davao will need to be sent to Cebu as there is no direct flight out of Davao. A common trans-shipment point is Taiwan.

Despite the distance, logistics to Asia are cheaper than nearby destinations such as Canada or USA. The reason is that logistics work on both sides (import/export) lowering the logistics operations costs.

Although longer transit time is the main obstacle for fresh produce exporters to penetrate Asian countries, there are some pineapple and banana exporters that have managed to prepare the fruit to endure longer transit time without sacrificing quality. The fastest route is to South Korea with 24 days transit time while China is the longest with 30-40 days transit time. Shipping costs range between $3,500-$5,000 (RFR 40 FCL).

Airfreights to Asia may vary from $4-7/kgs for 500+ kg/weight, transit time 3-4 days.

Local logistics is well-established for pineapples because Costa Rica has been exporting this product in large volumes for many years. However, there are unpaved roads for some packing houses. Major ports include port Limon and Caldera, which are located in the northern part of Costa Rica. On average, pineapple farms are located 180km away from port Limon and 140km from port Caldera. Trucking cost is around USD 650, which is cheaper than that of Mexico (USD2,000)

Local transportation infrastructure is well-established. Major producing regions are about 3-4 hours away from the port, and it may be more costly for farms in Bukidnon, which is at the center of Mindanao Island.

Source: International Labor Office, Research Department, working paper no. 52, title: Economic and social upgrading in the Philippines’ pineapple supply chain, November 2019 

12kg carton box in 40 ft reefer container

The product technical specifications may vary according to international standards, market preferences, and buyer’s requests. The standard technical specification of the product is as follows:

Crown pineapple

• Packaging: 12 KG carton box
• Sizes: 5-10

Crownless pineapple

• Packaging: 10.5 KG carton box
• Sizes: 5-9

Min Brix 12/ Average Brix 14

FCL

• Total pallets: 21
• Boxes per pallet: 80
• Total boxes: 1680
• Temperature during transit: 7C

Requirement before export: The protocol agreed by the country doing importation (i.e., agreed procedures related to phytosanitary control and the postharvest chemical and residue levels allowed by the country that wants to import pineapples from the Philippines).The Pineapples from the Philippines must conform to the Phytosanitary requirements abroad: No insects or excess levels of regulated postharvest chemicals.

Pre-export process: Current demand is matched by the appropriate harvest. If a new order from a new buyer comes in, the supplier will need at least one week to check if their harvest has an excess. If not, they can either turn the order down or source it from another supplier or farmer.

Export process: Purchase order -> Supply availability check (lead time: at least one week) -> Advance deposit (70, 80 or 100%) -> Shipment preparation and shipping schedule booking -> Pack supplies (~1 day) and cargo moves to port -> Send shipping documents including phytosanitary permit and the Certificate of origin are processed to buyer -> Balance payment by buyers -> Original documents sent to buyer through courier.

Supply availability check usually takes the most extended time, and custom requests for packaging or design will add another week or so. Aside from packing, export documents and the whole process takes about 1-2 days assuming there are no delays. 

Global GAP, ISO certifications, and other certificates are available upon the buyer's request.

In Europe, pineapples are sold primarily in retail stores. Specifically, supermarkets are the most important channel in Northwestern Europe. France and Spain commonly have pineapples in hypermarkets. In Southern Europe, specialist retailers such as fresh grocers are more dominant. 

The US:

For this product, the US requires an import permit which can be obtained through the APHIS system. Costa Rican Pineapple is admissible in all US ports except Hawaii. The product is subject to inspection at the port of entry. This product is also subject to the Code of Federal Regulations' general requirements of all imported fruits and vegetables. 

The EU: 

The EU requires this product to have contaminants and pesticides and active substances below a minimum threshold laid down on regulations EU 2017/625, EEC 315/93, and EC 1170/2009, among others. It must also be traceable to the first source. 

The biggest companies in the pineapple trade industry are Del Monte, Dole, Fyffes, Chiquita, and Banacol. These entities are known as transnationals.

• Nematodes: Nematodes are small worms present in all soil types as they’re involved in the organic matter cycle. Nematodes primarily attach to the plant roots and can potentially cause a fall in yield. Attacks from this particular type of pests can be identified by the appearance of non-uniform plant growth within a plot. The leaves will often turn yellow, pink, and red signifying deficiency in nutrients and water.
• Symphylans: These are small pseudo-millipedes that feed on the root tips of the pineapple. This disrupts nutrient absorption by the plant. The symptoms can be identified by non-uniformity in the plant. The dryer the soil, the more severe the attacks can be. Symphylans particularly attack young tissues which give rise to the increased risk when planting sprouts with a still under-developed root system.
• Scale insects: Scale insects develop on the pineapple’s foliar system. When they multiply, the plant is unable to photosynthesize efficiently which results in slow growth. Scale insects degrade the commercial presentation of the foods they attack, which are primarily fruits.
• Mites: These are highly abundant on pineapple plantations and cause growth reduction. In cases of a major infestation, effective acaricides are used to regulate infestation.
• Weeds: Weeds easily propagate on pineapple plantations especially the first few months after planting. They compete with the pineapples which hinder growth. They have also favored hosts for pests like the above-listed nematodes, symphylans, scale insects, etc. Regular weeding is a necessary part of the pineapple growing process.

It is hard to come across a fully ripe pineapple outside of the shelves of a store. This is because pineapples are harvested before 100% ripe. With that said, it can be determined whether the pineapple is ripe by smelling the bottom of the fruit (butt). The butt of the pineapple is where it is most fragrant. If it smells sweet, like pineapple juice, it most likely means it is ripe. If the butt doesn’t have a significant smell, it usually means that there is insufficient sugar and the fruit is not fully developed. Visual cues also provide a good indication of the fruit’s maturity. As the fruit begins to ripen, it will turn yellow and golden in color. If the fruit is yellow on the bottom and green on the top, that means the fruit will yield inconsistency in sweetness. A ripe pineapple will be yellow all the way to the crown which means that sugar has been evenly distributed throughout. Lastly, a simple “press test” can help determine the ripeness of the pineapple. A sweet and ready-to-eat pineapple will yield slightly to pressure. One should avoid overripe pineapples, which will have a distinct appearance and funky smell. If the pineapple appears reddish-bronze or dry-looking, it indicates overripeness.

Fairtrade is a partnership between traders based on transparent dialogue and respect. It’s an act intended to create greater equity in international trade. It offers better trading conditions and rights for marginalized producers as well as workers. The key tenets of Fairtrade include no child or forced labor, fair wages, safe working conditions, commitment to non-discrimination and gender equality, and commitment to women’s economic empowerment. The fairtrade act applies to pineapples like any other produce. The pineapple market has seen significant growth in demand but workers, by and large, have not been rewarded for their contributions to feeding such demand. Many working on the plantations continue to live in poverty, have no guarantee of job security, and are constantly exposed to pesticides and other hazardous chemicals. When pineapple prices fall, workers are disproportionately affected by wage cuts and deteriorated working conditions (which were very poor, to begin with). Fairtrade certification helps ensure good working conditions in the form of shorter shifts, paid breaks, improved health/safety practices, and payment of living wages. The certification is also meant to improve buying practices so that costs and risks are shared fairly among the supply chain. 

Each importing country has its own laws and requirements related to each imported product. The phytosanitary unit of the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible of ensuring that farms and packing houses meet each country's regulations on the following criteria: sanitary controls, HACCP, maximum pesticide residue levels, plant health, labeling and traceability, pest control (pallets certified NIMF15), and quality standards. Based on the evaluation of the criteria, packing houses and farms will obtain the permit to export to the countries of interest. 

Some buyers request international certifications as corporate mandatory. Common practices are Global GAP, HACCP, and BRC, and Environmental and social certificates are Rainforest Alliance, Tesco, Kosher, and Fairtrade. For organic certifications, USDA organic and Eco logical certificates are required. 

Export of fresh pineapple shall be allowed only if:

1. the exporter is accredited by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)

2. The fresh pineapple fruits are sourced only from registered growers, and,

3. fruits for export are processed in accredited packing facilities only.

The accreditation of the pineapple exporter, packing facilities & farm registration is regulated under the Memorandum Order No. 40 Series of 2012, entitled "Guidelines for the Accreditation of Exporters, Traders, Growers and Packing Facilities for the export of fruits and Vegetables"

All accredited exporters shall be assigned with their respective codes. The proper codling shall be stamped/placed in the boxes of the carton approved by BPL. This coding will identify the exporter, packing facility, production area, packing date, and box number per packing date. This coding will be maintained until the fruit reaches the port of entry.

Each consignment of fruit must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the BPI PQS. Additional declarations to be indicated in the Phytosanitary Certificate will depend on the requirements of the importing country.

There are five stages of maturity for the pineapples. Mostly, harvest occurs during the third stage. The size, weight, and brix of pineapple increase as they mature, while the firmness decreases. Initially, the fruit is a glossy bluish dark green. By the last stage of maturity the pineapple is an orange-yellow color.  Due to climatic conditions in the tropical and subtropical areas of production, the skin may remain green while the fruit has reached full maturity and ripeness.  All skin colors are allowed as long as the Brix level has met the minimum requirement.

The following color classification, or peel-color index, may be used in trade:

C0 – Totally green exterior

C1 – Beginning to turn yellow/orange on one quarter of the fruit surface

C2 – Yellow/orange on one half of the fruit surface

C3 – Yellow/orange on two thirds of the fruit surface

C4 – Totally orange/yellow fruit.

Pineapples are classified in 3classes, as defined below:

1. Extra Class. Pineapples in this class must be of superior quality. They must be characteristic of the variety. The crown, if present, must be single and straight with no side-shoots. It must be fresh and not discolored. The flesh must be perfectly sound, must be free from defects, with the exception of very slight superficial defects, provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package.

A total tolerance of 5%, by number or weight, of pineapples not satisfying the requirements of the class but meeting those of Class I is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 0.5% in total may consist of produce satisfying the requirements of Class II quality

2. Class I. Pineapples in this class must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety. The crown, if present, must be single and with no side-shoots. It may be slightly damaged, slightly discolored and slightly curved with a maximum inclination not exceeding 30° from the longitudinal axis of the fruit.

A total tolerance of 10%, by number or weight, of pineapples not satisfying the requirements of the class but meeting those of Class II is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 1% in total may consist of produce satisfying neither the requirements of Class II quality nor the minimum requirements, or of produce affected by decay

3. Class II. This class includes pineapples that do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements. Pineapples in this class must be of reasonable quality and suitable for human consumption and meet the minimum requirements. The flesh must be free from major defects. 

A total tolerance of 10%, by number or weight, of pineapples satisfying neither the requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 2% in total may consist of produce affected by decay. 

The size tolerance for all classes: a total tolerance of 20%, by number or weight, of pineapples not satisfying the requirements as regards sizing is allowed

Premium pineapple is the artisan pineapple that is carefully selected and handpicked at optimal ripeness with a high maturity level to guarantee a super sweet fruit and deliver the best-tasting experience. Ready-to-eat pineapples are air freighted at least 48 hours after being harvested.

Spain, Italy, and France are the biggest buyers of this premium category. With superior quality, there are still markets to conquer such as the Middle East.

A product line that is expected to continue to grow once the sanitary crisis is over and despite the higher retail price, as an example, in Spain, the retail price of pineapple is EUR 1/KG for pineapple by boat while pineapple by air costs over EUR 4/KG.

• The peak season of pineapple provides sufficient supply which lower prices
• Types or varieties of pineapple
• Higher class pineapples are pricier compared to low-class pineapple
• Excellent quality pineapple could provide higher prices
• Period of higher consumption such as year-end holidays