What The Heck Is A Pinkglow Pineapple?

For those of you who follow me on YouTube, I’m sure you’re familiar with my Fruity Fruits series in which I find different fruits from around the world and taste them. Sometimes generous viewers send them to me, sometimes I find them myself at local markets, and sometimes I order them from vendors such as Miami Fruit.

Recently I learned that Del Monte was coming out with a new pineapple variety that had pink flesh, not your garden variety yellow that we all are used to. And Del Monte kindly agreed to send me one of these lovelies, called the Pinkglow.

Now the first thing you’ve probably noticed is that, unlike pineapples in the store, this one has no crown. Del Monte says that it is so they can be replanted (making them more environmentally sustainable) but my guess is that they don’t want you and me doing the same thing in our backyards! (Yes, normally you can replant the crowns, though if you live in a more northerly climate like me, you’d have to bring the pineapple inside to overwinter.)

So, is it really pink inside? Let’s take a peek:

It is! Gorgeously pink. My older son, when he saw it sliced on the counter, said he thought it was ham. 

So far we’ve just been engaged in the visuals. And that’s all right if you just want some flashy shots for Instagram. But if you’re like me, you’ll want to taste it to see if it’s worth its hefty price tag ($49.95). 

How Do Pink Pineapples Taste?

For the most part they taste just like regular pineapples, but this one, at least, was sweeter than the ones I normally get. And I don’t know about you, but I like my pineapples tart. 

So, a very good pineapple, but not tart enough for my taste, and at the current price tag I’d say save your money and fill up your cart with regular, run-of-the-mill pineapples. 

Where Are Pink Pineapples Grown?

Pink Pineapples are grown by Del Monte in the South Central region of Costa Rica, in only one location which apparently has the ideal soil and climate. The plants themselves take roughly 24 months to fruit.  

Are Pink Pineapples Natural?

Also known as Rosé Pineapple, or Jewel of the Jungle, according to the FDA the pineapple “has been genetically engineered to produce lower levels of the enzymes already in conventional pineapple that convert the pink pigment lycopene to the yellow pigment beta carotene. Lycopene is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink, so it is commonly and safely consumed.”

The FDA has also said that the pink flesh pineapple is just as safe and nutritious as its conventional counterparts, so I guess it all depends on what you call “natural.”

Where Can I Buy a Pink Pineapple?

You can order a Pinkglow pineapple directly from the Del Monte website. Unfortunately, the pineapples aren’t available yet in stores. 

Happy fruit hunting!