Del Monte 's Last Pineapple Planting in Hawaii
Next month will mark the last planting of Del Monte pineapples in Hawaii, bringing its century-old operations here to an end. (Dole and Maui Land and Pineapple still will remain as the state's two large pineapple producers.) Next month's plantings won't be fully harvested until 2008, but I can't help wonder if we'll eventually see a day where it becomes difficult to buy fresh pineapple in Hawaii.
The Honolulu Advertiser provides far more detail on reasons, timelines and impact on the community.
Other Ma`ona pineapple posts:
→ How to cut pineapple like a local
→ Ginger Pineapple Sorbet
→ Pineapple facts
→ Caramelized Pineapple Over Ice Cream with Toasted Macadamia Nuts
are they indeginous?
Sam, that's a very good question. Pineapples are native to South America and were thought to have been brought to Hawaii by the Spanish. Why does it matter then, that pineapple cultivation is on the decline in Hawaii if they weren't from here in the first place?
The answer is that pineapples (and sugar cane) have been formative crops for modern Hawaii, playing strongly into the local economy, aggravating fierce battles over water/land rights use and prompting waves of migration from Asia to work in fields. For better and worse, pineapples are an important part of the last coupla hunded years in Hawaiian history and represent the waning of an era.
Oh man, if there ever SHOULD come the day where it'll be difficult to buy a pineapple at the grocery stores in HI...nope, just can't bear the thought. A couple weeks ago we picked up a pineapple (shipped in from Brazil) and I was actually surprised that it had good decent flavor. I think we paid something like 5 euros for a large pineapple or 'ananas' as they call it here. Sure the miss the ones back home though!
Hi Alan,
It is kind of sad to know that Del Monte is pulling out of pineapple production in Hawaii. My grandfather's family actually worked in pineapple and still live in the Wahiawa, Waialua, Haleiwa areas of the island.
I wonder if Dole will ever leave the islands. What do you think about that?
I would be sad because many people have said that Hawaiian grown pineapples are much sweeter than other varieties. I can only compare it to Sarawakian pineapples and think it's so much better.
BTW...I've sent you several e-mails. Have you received them?
Such sad news! I love the locally-grown Del Monte pineapples. Whenever relatives come to visit and want to take home some pineapple, I always go to the Kunia headquarters to get some for them. I wonder what will become of the fields... I hate to think that houses will replace the pineapple fields I'm so used to driving past.
I suspect that even if every major plantation owner moved out, there'd still be a pineapple industry, even if it were small fields owned by individuals. The price would probably go up. but the tourist industry needs to be able to serve hawaiian pineapple to people who are expecting it, and people who own small fruit stands will want to be able to sell them to people like you. :)
Rowena, I'm amazed you found a flavorful pineapple in Italy! Shipping ripe pineapples is challenging, so more often, wholesalers will send the unripe, woody fruit off for export.
Reid, I think there's a good chance Dole will leave someday too, faced with low prices from overseas producers. Part of what precipitated Del Monte's departure was the end of their lease. I have no idea whether or not Dole owns their own land, but I suspect not.
Embla, I've never been to the Kunia camp, but I've driven by the long pineapple fields. One thing may save those from turning into houses: water. There just isn't enough water to turn all O`ahu into a giant subdivision.
Topher, you're right of course. Even if the larger planters all pull out, a boutique market will remain for those farmers able to wait two years before harvesting their first pineapple.
In Torino, we can get pineapples from Costa Rica, Italians love them and they are a dessert item on many menus. Just pineapple sliced with nothing on top.
Gia, with good pineapples, the simplest preparations are the best. Why mask the flavor when it can taste so good on its own?
That's so sad! A relative of mine, Julius Collins, was a botanist who worked for Dole for many years, and was involved in tweaking pineapples to make them the varieties we get today.
When I finally make it to Hawaii, the pineapple plantations are one of the things I really want to see--it's a bummer that a bummer that one of the big producers is pulling out.
Jen- Hopefully Dole fields will be around for a while to come, if for no other reason than to provide backdrop for the Dole Pineapple Plantation ;-) The acres and acres of fruit driving from Honolulu towards the North Shore are impressive.