The pineapple is native to Brazil and Paraguay, but the pineapples Dole brings into New Zealand are grown in the biggest pineapple plantation in the world, on Mindanao Island in the Philippines.

Christopher Columbus found pineapples on the Caribbean island of Guadalupe in 1493. He took them to Spain where the Europeans thought the fruit resembled a pine cone.

Sailors soon discovered that the fruit was great protection against scurvy - a nasty disease that affected sailors in particular. The disease was a result of a diet that lacked vitamin C. Pineapples helped because they are extremely high in this vitamin.

In the Caribbean the pineapple symbolised hospitality and the Europeans who travelled there knew they were welcome if a pineapple was placed at the entrance to the village. This symbolism quickly spread through Europe where the pineapple was often carved onto bedposts or fireplaces. The pineapple has been a universal symbol of hospitality and welcome all over the world for several hundred years.

Pineapples do not grow on trees. They are the fruit of a bromeliad, rising from the centre on a single spike surrounded by sword-like leaves. The pineapple plant is the only bromeliad to produce edible fruit.

Pineapples take about 18 months to grow to harvest size but can keep growing up to 7 or 8kg if allowed.

The Tropical Gold pineapples that Dole brings into New Zealand have had the 'crowns' or leaves at the top of the pineapple removed. These crowns are recycled in the Philippines where the pineapples are grown. They are made into plant material used to feed and replenish the soil and some of the crowns are selected to be replanted to grow new pineapples. This is what makes them 'eco pineapples'.

Pineapple is not a single fruit, but a sorosis. That means the fruit of a hundred or more separate flowers grow on the plant spike. As they grow, they swell with juice and pulp, expanding to become the fruit.

The juice from the pineapple can be used to stop other fruit from going brown - like bananas or apples. It is also good in a marinade to help tenderise the meat.

Don't put raw pineapple into jelly, as the bromelain enzyme in the pineapple will stop it setting.