Pineapple!

Pineapple is the taste that screams summer and warm, tropical weather! It's sweet, it's juicy AND SpongeBob lives in one. Well, there aren't too many pineapples under the sea. They usually hail from the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico and China. Hawaii is the only U.S. country that grows pineapples and they produce 1/3 of the pineapples for the world.  Pineapples don't grow from a tree. They actually grow from a bromeliad which is a plant family with about 3,170 relatives. Now that IS a family tree! It takes 3 years for a pineapple to mature. They are not just one fruit, but actually hundreds. Europeans tried to cultivate the pineapple, but they need a tropical climate to grow in. Pineapples are very perishable and they were a rare treat for early American colonists therefore they became a symbol of status and upper social class. Christopher Columbus introduced the pineapple to the Spanish in 1493 after he was introduced to this fruit sailing through the Caribbean. Pineapples quickly spread through all the ships has a source of vitamin C which reduces the risk of scurvy, a disease brought on by lack of Vitamin C and can be fatal.

The pineapple is the only edible fruit of the bromeliad family and the only source of bromelian which has many health benefits like cancer prevention, enhanced immune function, better digestion and improved healing. The pineapple is also a great source of potassium in which only 2% of adults meet the recommended intake. A diet high in potassium is linked to a 20% reduction in death from all causes. Pineapples are also 87% water so they are great for hydration especially on those hot summer days.

Although pineapples are not as common as watermelon on those hot summer days and may even still be considered to be more of a luxury, they are quite affordable and easy to prepare and make for great finger food. When buying a pineapple look for 'eyes' that are flat and large with yellow/gold around them. The further up the yellow/gold color goes, then the more evenly the sweetness is distributed. You want fruits that are heavy and have a slight give to them. A squishy fruit is no good. An old trick of my family's is to give a gently tug to an inner leaf. If it releases easily, then the fruit is ready to eat. Pineapples are one of those fruits that do not ripen after it's picked so buy one when you are ready to eat it. It's okay to leave out on the counter for a day or two and you may get a few more days if you set it in a plastic bag and put it in the fridge, but ultimately you should cut it as soon as possible. The best way I have found to cut a pineapple is to cut off the top and bottom first and then skim off the skin. When you just have a chunk of fruit, then you can slice it or quarter it into bit size pieces.

Pineapples are great in drinks and smoothies and even on pizzas or shish kabobs! They are perfect finger food go-tos for kids. It's summer time! Splurge a little and enjoy this fruit that is not only good, but good for you!