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Where is the Pineapple from Hawaii

Posted on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:01

Hawaii got America hooked on Pineapple.  The tropical treat made everyone think "Mahalo."  Well, what ever happened to Pineapple from Hawaii?  At one time, Hawaii produced virtually all of the fresh Pineapple consumed in the United States.  Today, less than 5% of the fresh Pineapple comes from Hawaii.  For the U.S., most of our Pineapple now comes from Costa Rica or Mexico.  The reason...labor.  Labor costs just got so expensive in Hawaii.  Another was land cost.  When much of the land was be gobbled up by developers, that left less land to grow Pineapple.  During the 70s and 80s, land costs were outrageous in Hawaii.  A Pineapple grower couldn't even come up with the money to pay for the insurance on the land.  Lack of labor, high land costs...no more Hawaiian Pineapple.  Costa Rica had a lot of land, lots of fresh water, and plenty of labor.  Pineapple is so good.  There is still some "local" Pineapple in Hawaii.  I'll be there for the next week...with my Valentine.  Can't wait.
YPM getting fresh