Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic effects. Although
pineapple was originally reserved for special occasions, it
has become much more widely consumed since the 1990s,
when the US firm Del Monte launched a new low-acid
hybrid variety, 'MD-2,' which is grown on vast planta-
tions in Costa Rica. This variety rapidly replaced 'Smooth
Cayenne' that had traditionally dominated exports from
Africa (Cote d'Ivoire) to Europe and has become the stan-
dard variety for nearly all large pineapple producers in
Latin America and Asia. Owing to the strong demand from
retailers, West African producers are increasingly switch-
ing to the 'MD-2' to retain their share of the European
pineapple market (Fold and Gough, 2008; Loeillet, 2008).
Fresh pineapple consumption has increased in the US from
0.86 kg/year in 1996 to 2.5 kg/year in 2007 and in Europe
from 0.7 to 2.1 kg/year, as the new sweeter variety became
widely accepted. Popularity of fresh market pineapples con-
tinues to outrank processed pineapple products (including
juice and canned varieties), as seen in 2002, when fresh
market pineapples sold for roughly $540/ton while pro-
cessed pineapple goods sold for roughly $120/ton (TWI,
2009). Juice consumption has been halved since its peak in
1991 (Loeillet, 2008), and canned pineapple consumption
has also declined (Fig. 18.1). Thailand is the world's largest
producer of pineapple, and the largest exporter of canned
pineapple juice, satisfying 54% of the world demand (Vi-
chitrananda and Somsri, 2008).
The competition between fresh and processed pineap-
ple occurred as transportation systems allowed worldwide
sourcing coupled to the introduction of the low acid hybrids
such as 'MD-2,' with its strong consumer preference. Pre-
viously the higher acid canning varieties were marketed as
fresh fruit and frequently were very acid during the cooler
production periods and did not have the consumer-preferred
ratio of sugars to acids. Sales of fresh-cut fruit have more
than doubled from more than $450 million to $1 billion
since 2004. With 15% of fruit sales, pineapple is running
third behind melon (41%) and fruit salads (30%). Another
trend is the interest in organic food that arises from an
underlying interest in health, quality, sustainable produc-
tion and locally-sourced food. Consequently, innovations
in product presentation and convenience play a significant
role in marketing (Picha, 2006) and spurred pineapple con-
sumption.
other cultivars have been collected and characterized. Cop-
pens et al. (1997) proposed an international nomenclature
for cultivars that mentions local names or specific clones
together with the cultivar name.
The world pineapple industry is dominated by the
cultivar 'Smooth Cayenne,' also known as 'Cayenne
Lisse,' 'Maipuri,' 'Kew,' 'Sarawak,' 'Esmeralda,' 'Claire,'
'Typhoon,' and 'Saint Michel.' This cultivar is used both
for fresh fruit and for processing (Chan et al., 2003).
'Singapore Spanish' called 'Singapore Canning,' 'Ruby,'
'Red Pine,' 'Nanas Merah,' 'Nangka,' 'Gandul,' 'Betek,'
and 'Masmerah' is second in importance, especially for
canning, although the fruit also is acceptable as fresh fruit,
though the cultivars 'Queen' or 'Mauritius,' 'Malacca,'
'Red Ceylon,' 'Buitenzorg,' 'Victoria,' 'Ripley Queen,'
'Alexandra,' or 'Moris' (Mendiola et al., 1951; Leal, 1990)
are widely distributed, and cultivated in South Africa,
Australia, and India for the fresh fruit market. 'Espanola
Roja' or 'Red Spanish,' also called 'Black Spanish,' 'Key
Largo,' 'Havannah,' 'Habana,' 'Cubana,' 'Cowboy,' 'Bull
Head,' 'Cumanesa,' and 'Native Philippine Red' (Leal,
1990; Leal and d'Eeckenbrugge, 1996), is widely cultivated
in Venezuela and the Caribbean basin.
'Perola' is the main fresh market cultivar of Brazil and
is known as 'Pernambuco' or 'Branco de Pernambuco,'
but in Florida it has also been named 'Abacaxi,' 'Abakka,'
and 'Eleuthera' (Chan et al., 2003). 'Manzana' or
'Bumanguesa' is cultivated in the north-eastern and
western Andes of Colombia and in Venezuela (Chan et al.,
2003). Other traditional cultivars from South America but
of lesser regional importance than those named above are
'Perolera,' also named 'Lebrija,' 'Motilona,' 'Capachera,'
or 'Tachirense;' 'Monte Lirio,' also called 'Cambray'
or 'Milagrena;' 'Black Antigua;' 'Samba'; and 'Roja
Trujillana.' Certain Amazonian cultivars are 'Gigante de
Tarauac a' or 'Cabe¸a de On¸a,' 'Cabe¸a de Arara,' and
'Roxo de Tefe' (Chan et al., 2003).
Hybrids are the offspring of genetically dissimilar par-
ents respect to the same character. The hybrid 'MD-2'
called “Golden Ripe” or “Extra Sweet” and its sibling 'CO-
2' (US Patent PP8863) were developed by Del Monte Fresh
Produce Inc. (Hawaii) from a cross 72-114 made by the
Pineapple Research Institute (PRI) in Honolulu between
'58-1184' and '59-443.' 'MD-2' is currently the most pre-
ferred variety in the international market (Danso et al.,
2008). 'MD-2' is distinguished from its parents in being
sweeter and higher in ascorbic acid, with a “distinct tropical
flavor,” greater pigmentation, and higher flesh fiber content;
greater resistance to internal browning; and good overall
appearance after refrigerated storage. Hawaii consumers
preferred the 'MD-2' variety over 'Smooth Cayenne' when
MAIN CULTIVARS
Initially cultivars were classified on the basis of spininess,
fruit shape and flower color (Munro, 1835; Beer, 1857). Py
et al. (1987) recognized five groups: 'Cayenne,' 'Queen,'
'Spanish,' 'Pernambuco,' and 'Perolera.' But this classifica-
tion was inadequate, confusing, and inappropriate as many
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