A pink pineapple? Yes, you read that right! I had been seeing all sorts of visuals pop up on social media for this Pinkglow Pineapple, and even in a produce industry networking event. Everyone was talking about the pink pineapple, but no one was talking about the flavor! That did not do me any good, so I had to buy one and try it for myself! I had been a little reluctant to do this because they are incredibly expensive, but here is my Pinkglow Pineapple review!
Table of Contents
What is the Pinkglow Pineapple?
It is a pink pineapple! It is actually quite difficult to find a lot of information on this anywhere. However, this is what I have gathered from all of my research:
- It is a genetically modified organism (GMO), also known as genetically engineered (you can click here to read more information on what those actual food labeling terms mean.) However, instead of labeling that clearly on the different sales pages, they all mention “This product was made possible through bioengineering.” That is what that means! However, Specialty Produce explains further in detail on their website that carotenoids are naturally found in pineapples (what are responsible for the pink-red color) and that in traditional golden pineapples, the carotenoids (specifically lycopene) are converted to beta carotene, which results in the golden color. For the Pinkglow pineapple, the bioengineering that was performed muted the enzyme that converts the lycopene, thus, leaving the pink-red color in the flesh.
- They are not as readily available as the traditional golden pineapples, which helps explain the cost difference between the two.
- It is 16 years in the making! That is pretty cool.
- They are marketed as sweeter and less acidic than the traditional golden pineapple. For me, that is kind of a stretch because the tastes are so similar, but that is how they are marketed.
How Much Does the Pinkglow Pineapple Cost?
It all depends on where you live!
- West Coast – If you live on the west coast, Melissa’s Produce is the distributor for the Pinkglow pineapple and they are selling them for $29 per pineapple plus shipping (my shipping cost around $8).
- East Coast – If you live on the east coast, Tropical Fruit Box is the distributor and they are selling them for $49 per pineapple.
- Texas – The Petit Pinkglow is currently only available in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and is being sold exclusively by Del Monte for $15.99.
Unboxing the Pinkglow Pineapple
What Does the Pink Pineapple Look Like in Person?
There are two ways to answer this question, based on the exterior and interior of the Pinkglow pineapple.
- Exterior – It is medium sized, it does have a slight pinkish-yellow tint on the exterior (where the traditional golden pineapple is more green-yellow), and it arrives without its crown (the top green part).
- Interior – It is pink. The exact pink color is debatable though. My husband says it looks coral, while the entire time that I was looking at it and doing the review, the only thing that came to mind was that it looked like a medicine color! It is not a strong pink color like I was expecting, it is more of a dull pink. So, I shared some pictures on social media to get some additional input, and others said that the pink pineapple flesh looked like grapefruit, papaya, salmon, rose (like the wine), and sherbert.
How Does the Pink Pineapple Look Mixed with Other Fruit?
The color is really not as exciting as I expected before purchasing it, especially when mixed in with other vibrant fruit colors. In the pictures below, you can see it compared to regular golden pineapple and watermelon to compare the colors, as well as mixed into different fruit bowls.
What Does the Pink Pineapple Taste Like?
To get to the bottom of this, I brought my husband in to do the review with me. I figured if we only had one pineapple to try, we better do it right and get a second opinion! But really, if you watch the entire video below, you will see there is really more like 3.5 opinions included!
We concluded that the Pinkglow pineapple tastes very similar to the traditional golden pineapple. The main difference between the two is the aftertaste. I made sure to have both available to compare, and my husband and I both agreed that the last bite was the main difference. With the golden pineapple, you get a kick at the end of a bite. With the Pinkglow pineapple, you do not get that. Other than that, it was a very similar flavor, including the taste and smell.
When our daughter tasted the Pinkglow pineapple, she ate a lot! But, then when she saw it the next time, she referred to it as watermelon. But, the most important thing to note is that she ate a lot of it the first time she tried it and then would not touch it again! I don’t know if she ate too much the first time, was attracted by the pink color, or if that is just how it works with kids sometimes, but that was the case this time!
Is the Pinkglow Pineapple Worth it?
I think another way of asking this is if I would buy it again, and the answer is no. I am glad that I bought it so that I could see the color in person and experience a pink pineapple. However, it did not taste better than a traditional golden pineapple that I can buy at my local Costco for $1.99, and the pink color was also not that special to me. It is not something that I would dream about eating again or feel the need to put in my fruit salad. If it were at a comparable price, I am sure I would be a little more likely to purchase it again, but it is not!
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They are selling the pink pineapples here at the Pine Bluff, Saracen Landing, Farmers market for $10 each. The people were waiting for the truck to arrive.
I just purchased one here in SoCal at my local grocery store; $12.99. The produce area had a sample, which I tasted and liked. Regular pineapple causes sores in my mouth due to the acidity. The pink pineapple does not. It is not something I would purchase every week, but once in a while is nice.