As seen in Delish.
- Fresh Del Monte’s Pinkglow pineapple took 16 years to develop, featuring a naturally pink interior.
- The fruit is less acidic and less sweet than traditional pineapple, resulting in a more balanced flavor.
- It’s a splurge at $30, but it’s worth trying for a special occasion.
Del Monte Foods Inc. may have recently filed for bankruptcy, but the pineapple innovation game clearly isn’t slowing down thanks to Fresh Del Monte, the global leader in fresh and fresh-cut produce—which is an entirely separate entity. Fresh Del Monte dabbles in designer fruit—yes, that’s a thing. Between its MAG.nificent Melon cantaloupes, Honeyglow and Extra Sweet pineapples, and now the famous Pinkglow pineapple, Fresh Del Monte is out here giving produce the luxury treatment.
But what’s so special about these pineapples, you ask? Well, the Pinkglow first made waves in 2020 as a fancy fruit that could only be ordered online. Now it’s available in grocery stores nationwide, though it’s still not exactly a budget buy at $30.
In terms of its background, it took the company over 16 years to develop the spiky showstopper, which swaps the typical yellow flesh for a blush-pink hue thanks to a clever enzyme tweak.
Fresh Del Monte figured out a way to turn off the enzyme responsible for the fruit’s yellow pigment, allowing more lycopene to accumulate (the antioxidant that gives tomatoes and watermelon their color), resulting in the notorious Barbie pink color.
After years of intrigue, I finally got my hands on one of these fancy pineapples, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I used to love pineapple as a kid, but over time, it became too sugary, and I found myself reaching for it less and less. The Pinkglow seems to have solved that problem.
It’s still juicy, but less acidic. Still pineapple, but better. I housed an entire one to my face in just one weekend.
Because it’s not as cloying as regular pineapple, I felt like I could eat way more of it. It didn’t make me pucker, and it was still sweet in a well-balanced way. Now, if this were priced like a regular pineapple, I’d be buying it weekly. But unfortunately, its price tag doesn’t quite fit into my typical grocery budget.
A summer party or birthday centerpiece, however? Add to cart.
