Tesco has beaten other UK supermarkets to the post with the launch of the first whole organic pineapples.
The pineapples come from Togo, in Africa, where they are grown in areas from the mountains to the coastal planes by family producers, each managing a small unit of about two hectares.
The exporting arrangement has brought new benefits for the growers, accustomed only to supplying local markets. Each grower is now being supported by a trained agronomist to ensure all fruit is of the condition and quality expected by UK consumers.
Since organic pineapples are not artificially ripened, the Togolese Cayenne pineapples appear green with some gold colouring at the base even when ready to eat.
Priced at £2.99, the organic pineapples are now available in Tesco stores nationwide.
The innovation follows an announcement that Tesco Organic fruit sales have rocketed by a third over the past year.
