Pineapples are bromeliads, i.e, herbaceous plants that are native to tropical and subtropical America. The earliest written account about the pineapple is by Christopher Columbus. But it was Gonzalo de Oviedo y Valdes, the Spanish chronicler of the Indies, who first described the plant and its fruit in detail.
The European took an immediate delight in the pineapple and introduced it to the rest of the world. It is not known when it was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards. During the galleon trade, ships from Mexico carried many plants and products from America; among them was the pineapple. It quickly grew all over the Philippines due to the country’s fertile soil and suitable climate.
In Brazil, the pineapple is called nana, or “excellent fruit” in an Indian dialect. The Spaniards named it piña because its fruit resembles the pine cone. In the Philippines piña became pinya.
The variety first cultivated in the Philippines is the Bromelia Pigna, better known as Red Spanish. It is a tough plant, with leaves naturally adept in retaining water, making it easy to transport. The fruits were brought along and eaten on long voyages to prevent scurvy. Crowns of these fruits were probably the first plants grown in the country.
In 1911, the smooth Cayenne pineapple from Hawaii was introduced by the Bureau of Agriculture. Because the pineapple is primarily priced from its fruits, which can be eaten in slices or crushed for its juice, this variety with big fruits became popular. Today, it continues in the plantations of Del Monte Corporation and Dole Philippines in Mindanao.
But the Red Spanish is still planted in many places because of its long leaves which are sourced for fiber. Weaving of piña cloth is a traditional industry in the Philippines. There was a time when weaving piña cloth was done mostly in the country. During the Spanish Period, embroidered piña handkerchiefs and pañuelos, together with the elegant camisas for women and the barong tagalog, were regarded fashionable wear for the rich. Iloilo then was the center of piña weaving.
At present, Taiwan and other pineapple-producing countries compete with the country’s acknowledged center and last stronghold of piña cloth, Aklan, but its production is limited.
