Pineapple Varieties

Pineapple belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, from which one of its most important health-promoting compounds, the enzyme bromelain, was named. The Spanish name for pineapple, pina, and the root of its English name, reflects the fruit's visual similarity to the pinecone.

Fresh pineapples in Australia are 100% Australian produce.

We don't import or export. Queensland growers are responsible for the bulk of what you buy in supermarkets and fruit shops

What Kind of Pineapple Are You Eating?

In Australia if you head into a supermarket or any fruit shop and your pineapple is without a top it is probably the hybrid variety known as 73-50.

73-50

Hybrid 73-50 was developed by the Hawaiian Pineapple Research Institute (dissovled in 1975). It was imported into Australia in 1987 by a farmer from out near Woodford (SE QLD) who realised its potential and as legend has it bought six plants into Australia in a suitcase. These pineapples were marketed as Bethonga Gold. The crowns of the 73-50 were removed by the Bethonga grower to stop other growers cultivating the variety via planting the tops. The topless feature stuck as the variety gained popularity with consumers through the large supermarkets. The custom has an adverse affect on the look of pineapple as the fruit tends to dehydrate faster with the top removed. Many in the industry would prefer to see the custom done away with, however the chain stores seem to want the practice to continue.

The 73-50 is a sweet pineapple. Its parentage includes 54% Cayenne, 20% Mordilona, 13% Pernambuco, 13% Red Spanish and 3% Queen. It was considered by PRI breeders to be a high yielding cultivar with low acidity and high vitamin C . This selection has been grown on an increasing scale in Australia under various names. All usually suffixed with "Gold". For example our own brand, Rollingstone Gold plus Mareeba Gold, Aussie Gold and Pure Gold from the other large pack houses. They are all the same variety. It is Australia's largest hybrid pineapple crop, however the MD2 is gaining in popularity (see below)

The acidity of the 73-50 is only about half that of the Smooth Cayene variety in early winter. The vitamin C content of the 73-50 is about 5 times greater than the Cayenne in winter. 73-50's normally have a very aromatic flavour, and when naturally ripened and picked with breaking colour produce a gorgeous perfume that demands attention. The 73-50 has a slightly smaller core than the Cayenne in comparison to the fruit width, and the flesh is more yellow. The 73-50 has a useful level of field resistance to blackheart (rotten core) but can be susceptible to internal browning.

MD2

The rest of the world usually grows and eats a sibling variety commonly called the MD-2 but originally called the 73-114. We do grow and sell this variety but not yet on the scale of the 73-50. In the Australian market the variety is sold with the top on or off depending on the customer.

The 73-50 and 73-114 resulted from a cross between two Pineapple Research Institute hybrids, the 58-1184 and the 59-443, which were complex mixtures of several varieties, each more than 50% Smooth Cayenne. Between 1973 and 1980 testing of these two selections were made in Maui and between 1978 and 1980 were also tested in plantations on Oahu. In 1980, both lines were released to Maui Pineapple Company and Del Monte for further evaluations.

In 1981, 73-50 was renamed MD-1 for internal use and 73-114 was named MD2. Both were named after Millie, the wife of Frank Dillard, then General Manager of the pineapple company. In the mid 80's, MD2 plants were shipped to Costa Rica. The MD2 has now replaced Smooth Cayenne world-wide except for areas of Smooth production in Australia and South Africa. It is now grown in countries such as Australia, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico with Costa Rica by far the leading producer by volume.