The pineapple is native to South America . The multiple fruit plant grows to approximately 1.20 m high.

It is widely believed that Christopher Columbus discovered the fruit on one of his voyages to the Caribbean . Thereafter, It was introduced to the Court of Spain in 1535.

Portuguese traders used main shipping lines to distribute and develop this fruit.

Its is imported mainly from Costa Rica and the Ivory Coast .

There are several varieties of pineapple :

• Sweet : very sweet fruit, cultivated in Costa Rica , Honduras and Ecuador .
• Cayenne Lisse : introduced from Cayenne ( French Guyana) ; grown in the Ivory Coast and Cameroon ,
• Victoria : small fruit with juicy and highly perfumed orange flesh. Mainly produced for the European from Mauritius , Kenya , South Africa and Reunion .

These varieties are marketed year round.