Prickly Pineapples: from farm to fork

Summary

This video takes viewers on a fascinating journey of pineapples from a farm in Costa Rica to stores in the UK. It details the entire process, starting with soil preparation and seed planting on raised beds to ensure optimal growth. The video explores how ethon is used to trigger fruit development and the 12-month cycle it takes for pineapples to mature. Hand-harvested with care, the pineapples are washed, sorted, and packed before being shipped to the UK. Upon arrival, they undergo quality checks and are stored before reaching local stores, ensuring they are fresh and ready for consumers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pineapples are grown all year round in Costa Rica, with raised beds to prevent excess water from damaging the plants.
• 😀 The farmer uses the best seed plants from last year's crop to start new pineapple plants.
• 😀 Each pineapple is planted by hand, with equal space between them to ensure they grow at the same rate.
• 😀 The farm produces around 75 million pineapples annually, with a growing cycle of 8 months before the next stage.
• 😀 A special machine called a crop sprayer applies ethon, which signals the plants to start developing fruit (induction).
• 😀 After induction, it takes 15 weeks for the fruit to fully develop into a mature pineapple.
• 😀 It takes 12 months from planting to harvest before the pineapples are ready to be picked.
• 😀 Pineapples are primarily harvested by hand to avoid bruising or damaging the fruit.
• 😀 After picking, the pineapples are sent to a packing station for inspection, washing, and sorting by size and quality.
• 😀 The pineapples are then shipped from Costa Rica to the UK, where they undergo final quality checks before reaching local stores.

Q & A

Why are raised beds used in pineapple farming?

Raised beds are used in pineapple farming to allow any extra rainwater to flow away, preventing the plants from being damaged by excess water. Pineapples do not like too much water, so this helps to protect the plants.

How are the best seed plants selected for pineapple cultivation?

The best seed plants are selected from last year's crop. These plants are then loaded onto trucks and scattered along the raised beds for planting.

What is the importance of planting pineapples with equal spacing?

Equal spacing between the pineapple plants ensures they all grow at the same rate. This allows each plant to receive the same amount of nutrients and sunlight, leading to uniform growth and fruit size.

How many pineapples are grown on this farm each year?

On this farm, approximately 75 million pineapples are grown every year.

What is the role of the crop sprayer in pineapple farming?

The crop sprayer applies a substance called ethon, which signals the plant to start developing fruit. This process is called induction and helps trigger the growth of the pineapple fruit.

How long does it take for a pineapple to develop from planting to harvest?

It takes about 12 months from planting to harvesting a fully grown pineapple on this farm.

Why are pineapples picked by hand rather than by machines?

Pineapples are picked by hand because using machines could bruise or damage the fruit. Handpicking ensures that the fruit remains intact and in good condition.

What method is used to check the sweetness of pineapples during quality inspection?

A refractometer is used to check the sweetness of the pineapples by analyzing a sample of the juice. This helps determine if the fruit is as sweet as it should be.

What happens to pineapples that do not meet the required quality standards?

Pineapples that do not meet the right size or quality are removed from the batch and are used to make juice or other pineapple products.

What happens after the pineapples are packed in Costa Rica?

Once packed, the pineapples are transported by ship from Costa Rica to the UK. Upon arrival, they are unloaded, stored in a cold storage area, and undergo further quality checks before being distributed to local stores.