Pineapple, Spiny and Sweet

Pineapples have exceptional juiciness and a vibrant tropical flavor that balances the tastes of sweet and tart. They are second only to bananas as America's favorite tropical fruit. Although the season for pineapple runs from March through June, they are available year-round in local markets.

Spiny on the outside, sweet on the inside, pineapples are one fantastic fruit. Pineapples are members of the bromeliad family, and one of the few bromeliads to produce edible fruit, according to the biology department at Union County College. The fruit is actually made of many individual berries that fuse together around a central core. Each pineapple scale is an individual berry.

Fun Facts:
1. Pineapple Discovery
In 1493, explorer Christopher Columbus found pineapples on Guadeloupe Island in the Caribbean. The fruit is also native to southern Brazil and Paraguay.
2. Pineapples in Colonial America
American colonists regarded pineapples as a luxurious treat because of their rarity and cost.
3. Pineapple Anatomy
A pineapple is the result of many flowers whose fruitless have joined around the core.
4. Pineapples in Hawaii
Historically, Hawaii was the world's largest pineapple producer and source for U.S. pineapples. Today the largest producers include the Philippines, Brazil, and Costa Rica.
5. Pineapple Care
To make your pineapple softer and juicier, keep it at room temperature for 1 or 2 days before cutting.

How to Select and Store
Look for pineapples that are heavy for their size. While larger pineapples will have a greater proportion of edible flesh, there is usually no difference in quality between a small and large size pineapple. Pineapples should be free of soft spots, bruises and darkened "eyes," all of which may indicate that the pineapple is past its prime. Pineapple stops ripening as soon as it is picked, so choose fruit with a fragrant sweet smell at the stem end. Avoid pineapple that smells musty, sour or fermented.

Health Benefits:
Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions.
Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant foods like pineapples decreases the risk of obesity, overall mortality, diabetes, and heart disease.
It also promotes a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy, and an overall lower weight.

Reference:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/276903.php
http://www.livescience.com/45487-pineapple-nutrition.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=34
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/pineapple.html