Blog #11

As we’ve seen in our readings, pineapples mean so much more than we think they do. In Costa Rica, pineapples are this symbol of hard work, tropical sweetness and community. The hard work of cultivating pineapples has led it to be a symbol of the working classes in Costa Rica. But to the middle and upper classes, the fruit is more of a symbol of community. It is eaten sliced in the mornings with breakfast but also often served as a snack. Pineapple is a unifying fruit for Ticans where its sweetness is well known and liked, giving it a universal status throughout the country.

Pineapple is much more abundant in Costa Rica than it is in the US. In Costa Rica we have more pineapple desserts, jams, sauces and toppings. In the states I can barely think of any pineapple off the top of my head. We rarely see it in its regular form in the states whereas as in Costa Rica its sold on the back of trucks, in supermarkets and at the ferria in its whole form. Our perceptions of pineapples are also different, In the states pineapples constantly allude to the desire and mystery of the tropics and Hawaii. In Costa Rica pineapple is simply apart of everyday Tican life.

The connotations of pineapple here and the US have led me to see how greatly culture shapes our perception of even one type of food. I used to think pineapples were tropical. They were indulgent, hard to cut open but once open completely sweet, satisfying and delicious. In Costa Rica pineapples are regularity. The pineapple drinks and jams and desserts and the fruit itself are consumed everyday. It’s a cultural favorite not because it is rare or a symbol of status but simply because it is delicious. I have really enjoyed what analyzing these foods has shown me. I have this conception now about the quality of the food I consume which was completely absent before. Pineapple in the US and in Costa Rica is a perfect example. The quality is more important than where it comes from. Food should be a symbol of community and social interactions. Too often in the US are we focused on brand names or other symbol statuses. I cannot wait to take this mindset back to the US and recognize the true quality of what I am eating and then share that with others. This opportunity has really been eye opening and proved that a food is much more than it seems but, at the same time, it is simply about the product itself.