pineapple

My family said that the pineapple is only eaten in the morning, only for breakfast.  However, they do eat it in different forms- they eat it fresh, in pastries, in jams, and in drinks. When asked about the different kinds of pineapple sold now than formerly, they said that they only know of two kinds of pineapple grown and sold here-one is the normal pineapple that we think of, and the other is sweeter. This realization about the different varieties of pineapple made me wonder why only one variety is shipped to the US.  Or are both varieties shipped there, and I am only aware of one? They also didn’t mention anything about the change over time in the kinds of pineapple grown, or in how they are grown.  I wonder if the cultivating practices have changed over time. Has there been an increase in agricultural and production methods, or an increase in use of pesticides as we have witnessed with other fruits?

My family said that the pineapple was very important to their culture because it is grown here, and it is very sweet and delicious, and often seen in special pastries and drinks at family gatherings.  However, despite this cultural significance, they did not talk about pineapple with the same feeling of importance and pride as they did with coffee.  I feel like pineapple holds an important place in their culture, however, due to their cultural history, it is not the same sign of cultural identity and pride as it is with coffee.

As we learned in our reading, the pineapple has held prestige in the symbolic realm of foods.  It is the “princess of all fruits”, according to one of our readings.  It represents hospitality and high social status. I question how this symbol has changed? My family spoke of the pineapple and its significance in high regards, but not so much as a symbol of status or wealth.  Maybe at this point in time, this symbolism is subconscious; it has become more of an implicit meaning that cannot be put into words but it is just understood within the realms of their culture.

I noticed a lot of juices and jams with the pineapple flavor in Mas por Menos. In the US, I don’t think pineapple flavored things are as popular.  Here in Costa Rica, pineapple is so fresh, and it’s inexpensive compared to the US because it is grown here.  At home, at least in my family, pineapple still holds that symbol of something special. It is for special occasions; it is not something we eat every day.  Also, in the US, I think that canned pineapple is more common.  I only saw fresh pineapple in the supermarket here in Costa Rica, probably because the fruit here is more widely accessible.