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| Thanks Fresh Del Monte for this Pinkglow Pineapple to test out! This candy-like taste is as good as any Easter chocolate! All thoughts are my own. |
When I think of Easter treats, fruit is not often at the center of my mind. Lately, as I've endeavored to incorporate more fruit and veggies into my daily routine, I've been thinking about fruit a lot. I've also been thinking about Easter a lot. As a full time church worker, Easter will be here before I know it. I often get invited to someone's home for an Easter meal, but I always have to explain why I don't eat the meat often at the center of attention: ham.
Ham is a staple in many of our Easter meals, and it's often baked with sliced pineapple! I'd rather have my fruit, especially pineapple, away from this particular cut of meat. I can't explain why I dislike ham, but if y'all love your ham with pineapple slices, I really recommend purchasing a Fresh Del Monte Pinkglow Pineapple.
Fresh Del Monte is one of the world's leading producers and distributors of fresh cut fruits and veggies. Pineapples are no different, as Del Monte labels are the most often labels I've seen when fruit shopping at grocery stores.
Most Pineapples have a mix of a sweet & tart flavor to its yellow gold juicy fruit. It has a citrus taste but also can leave an acidic feeling in our mouths as its flavors and contents combat with our taste buds. Most pineapples are harvested between March and July from Latin America, Hawaii, and West Africa.
Fresh Del Monte has a new hybrid pineapple for us to try that's grown on one farm in Costa Rica! This pineapple, called the Pinkglow, has a pink sweet fruit that can resemble a candy-taste and is less sour than traditional gold pineapples.
Pinkglow Pineapples are created by planting pineapple tops (called crowns) back into soil. This sustainable practice allows pineapples to be harvested by hand and helps to continue the growth of pineapples.
What makes the Pinkglow Pineapple pink versus gold? A pigment called lycopene exists in these magnificent fruits. This is a natural occurring pigment that exists in tomatoes, watermelons, and other pink pigmented fruits. It is NOT an additive or chemical but rather already exists in pineapples.Pinkglow Pineapples are genetically modified so that the traditional beta-carotene that exists in regular pineapples is not as prevalent. Somehow, Fresh Del Monte growers have figured out how to modify the enzyme that makes the fruit yellow to be less, so that the enzyme that makes fruits pink occurs!
This modification also means that Pinkglow Pineapples have less harsh effects on our mouths as the acidic component is not as strong. In fact, I'd place this citrus fruit in a different category as it doesn't contain that natural citrusy taste when eaten. Its not quite a berry but not quite a melon either. Its sweetness has distinct flavor that stems from its soft honeyed flesh. Of course, the "skin" of the pineapple needs to be removed in order to get to that wonderful goodness.
Due to modifications in growing and harvesting these fruits plus the sustainable practices used, Pinkglow Pineapples might seem more expensive than regularly harvested pineapples. Did you know that it takes around 20 months to grow a pineapple? That's a long time to wait for a fruit to be ripe for harvesting! That's a long time to care for and protect those plants as well!
Due to the time and energy spent into creating and sustaining these plants, as well as their limited quantity, these pineapples would make an exclusive individualized Easter gift for any fruit lover! The Pinkglow Pineapple comes with a certificate of authenticity to ensure the purchaser that it is a tropically grown fruit.
Why would you want a Pinkglow Pineapple for Easter? Well, there are so many reasons! Having the sweet counterpart to your ham would make for a wonderful Easter dinner selection. If you are like me and dislike ham, then sweet pineapple would make a great fruit salad, or just sliced as an additional side.
I am particularly excited to try out the Pink Pineapple in cooking as well. I love making stir-fry and I think pineapple and chicken would make an excellent dinner. Maybe you are a baker and want to try your hand at the Pineapple Upside down cake. Pinkglow Pineapple slices would add a great flavor to them!
The Pinkglow would make a great addition to any Easter Day, especially to combat the chocolate, candy, and desserts that often abound! Don't forget your Easter cocktails and mocktails. This pineapple is a delicious flavor that will liven up any margarita, daiquiri, piña colada, and more! In fact, there are some awesome recipes floating around the social links listed below! Im partial to this recipe found on the Pinkglow Pineapple FB Page: Pinkglow Pineapple Bundt Cake With Strawberry Glaze. Definitely incorporates my favorites! Head over to the Fresh Del Monte site for the full recipe. In fact, our strawberry farm is now open so I might see a cake in the future this weekend!
As always, pineapples, like any fruit, have a short shelf life. Pinkglow's are shipped with chillers to help it be cool while arriving to your door, but they should be used quickly. The pineapple can last uncut on the counter for a couple of days, but it's best to have the longest shelf life by chilling it for 8 hours, then cutting it into pieces, placing the fruit into an airtight container. The pieces can last in the fridge up to seven days. With this short lifespan, make sure the loved one you are sending this too will be home!
I particularly love sweeter fruit, so I'm excited about this Pinkglow Pineapple and hope you will be too!
Have a happy Easter with Fresh Del Monte's Pinkglow Pineapple and make your Easter even sweeter than it already will be!
Want it? Get it!
Purchase a Pinkglow Pineapple from Melissas or Tropical Fruit Box.
Instagram Socials: Fresh Del Monte & Pinkglow Pineapple
Facebook Socials: Fresh Del Monte & Pinkglow Pineapple
What would you make with your Pinkglow Pineapple?
