After 15 Years in the Making, You Can Finally Buy Del Monte’s Pink Pineapple

Breeding or genetically modifying fruit to fit the consumer’s ideal is hardly a new concept — humans have been looking to perfect their crops pretty much since the invention of agriculture. But while crops have previously been designed for the highest yield, best taste, or, most recently, the widest supermarket appeal, the latest trend, particularly in fruits, has been for the kind of stuff that will grab eyeballs on Instagram. Which is why you can now purchase an actual pink pineapple.

15 years of research and safety tests, now Pinkglow pineapple is available in the market from Del Monte. They genetically modified to lower an existing enzyme in pineapples that convert the pink pigment lycopene to yellow pigment beta carotene. Lycopene is what makes tomatoes and watermelon pink, so they are natural. Lycopene is an antioxidant that prevents cancer. We need more foods biofortified to prevent cancer as the disease becomes so common. It is best that these foods are what we commonly consume so there is no extra effort to change our diet. Pinkglow pineapple is less sour, juicer and sweeter. Will you eat this? I would, happily.

Dr. Maha

Sure, Instagram wasn’t quite invented yet when Del Monte Fresh Produce first started designing the fruit back in 2005 — by playing around with its genes to create a sweeter, pinker pineapple — but it’s hard to deny that’s what they’re marketing it as right now. While it was originally called the rosé pineapple during development — hopping on that bandwagon — the Pinkglow Pineapple plays better into today’s Instagram trends. Per the website, “Don’t worry about a Filter. We grew it.” In fact, they even allude to the ever-changing social media landscape, saying, “Pinkglow will look phenomenal on whatever social media platform is en vogue by the time you read this.”

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