Boxes on a Pallet: 75
The Pineapple is a tropical plant, native to South America. Pineapples are bromeliads (Bromeliaceae family). The plant has a lot of pointed leaves, which can grow up to 100 cm long. The Pineapple fruit grows from many small berries which fuse together (this is called a multiple-accessory fleshy fruit). It is the only fruit that takes nearly 18 months to grow. Pineapples are large and ovoid with a tough, spikey shell. On the inside of the fruit you will find large amounts of yellow flesh with a tough, fibrous core. The fruit can be up to 30 cm long and weigh more than 4 kg.
The Pineapple was named piņa by the Spanish colonists , because of it resemblance to a pine cone. The native Tupi word for the fruit is anana, meaning excellent fruit. This word became the source of the word ananas, which is the word for pineapples in many languages.
The pineapple is also an old symbol of hospitality and can often be seen in carved decorations.
Pineapple is very often used in desserts and other types of fruit dishes.
Drink a glass of pineapple juice in the morning before you go to school, eat a slice of pineapple topped with cottage cheese or add some chunks to your favourite pizza. Pineapple juice is also great to use to mix up exotic beverages and cocktails. Pineapples contain a lot of proteolytic enzyme bromelain ( which digests food by breaking down protein). Its juice can therefore be used as a marinade or to tenderise meat.