LONDON - I will be honest. I am one of the more than eight in 10 consumers who will admit that they don’t know the correct way to store pineapples. This research from Fyffes coincides with the strategic launch of its new crownless pineapples in Europe.

“We’re pleased to see retailer uptake of crownless pineapples here in the U.K.,” John Hopkins, Managing Director at Fyffes UK, commented. “The crownless pineapples mean we can help retailers meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets and reduce compostable waste. An unexpected benefit is the reaction from consumers who value the space saving in the shopping basket and storage at home. We hope to see pineapples become a staple in households across Europe and beyond.”

Fyffes assessed the consumption habits, awareness, and knowledge surrounding pineapples among over 1,000 U.K. and Ireland consumers, to reveal that only 19 percent know the best way to store a pineapple is to chop it up and put it in the fridge, with almost a third leaving a pineapple to ‘ripen’ in a fruit bowl.

A press release stated that Fyffes is already firmly committed to responsible production, as illustrated by its greenhouse gas target and its work on human rights due diligence. The launch of Fyffes’ crownless pineapples to the European market presents further sustainability benefits for retailers and consumers.

“We are pleased and encouraged to see the growing demand and importance of sustainability among consumers, with 64 percent willing to pay more for ethically sourced produce,” Ciarán Sweeney, Managing Director at Fyffes Ireland, commented. “At Fyffes, we have been delivering on our sustainability targets since we set our baseline in 2020, and we are keen to support retailers to meet this growing demand while reducing waste and carbon emissions through innovations like the launch of our new crownless pineapple.”

For retailers, crownless pineapples present the opportunity for reducing carbon emissions significantly, as more than 30 percent more crownless pineapples can be transported as they take up significantly less space. The removed crowns are replanted in the pineapple fields or shredded and given to local farmers to be used for animal feed. For consumers, crownless pineapples minimize organic waste and reduce time and effort involved in preparation.

Consumers can learn something new every day! And they certainly will, with suppliers like Fyffes taking charge.