Red-shelled pineapple from Fresh Del Monte Produce to debut in China

A red-shelled pineapple more than 15 years in the making is being unveiled by Fresh Del Monte Produce.

The Rubyglow pineapple, grown in Costa Rica, is a cross between a traditional pineapple and a Morada pineapple, according to a news release. The hybrid fruit, with a registered plant patent in the U.S., is naturally ripened on the plant in Costa Rica and sold crownless.

The Rubyglow is first being launched in China in time for Chinese New Year as part of the company’s debut in the Chinese market, according to the release. Consumers in other countries can sign up for a waiting list at https://freshdelmonte.com/rubyglow/

“This Del Monte exclusive pineapple further cements our global leadership position in the pineapple market,” Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, chair and CEO of Fresh Del Monte, said in the release. “Our scientists continue to elevate the bar by creating new pineapple varieties, with varied tastes and colors, that cater to more and more consumers worldwide. We believe that the Rubyglow pineapple is the perfect product to build our market presence in China.”

Around 5,000 Rubyglow pineapples will be available worldwide this year, with 3,000 available in 2025, according to the release.

Fresh Del Monte debuted the Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple in the 1990s. Since then, the company has added the Pinkglow, the Honeyglow, the Del Monte Zero and now the Rubyglow to its pineapple portfolio.