All You Need to Know About JVI Imports’ Panama Pineapples
Pineapples are one of the most iconic fruits of the tropics. There’s a handful of different pineapple varieties but gold is by far the most popular. This variety has a bright flavor profile and a juicy, fibrous flesh. Unfortunately, this variety has also been tight for quite some time.
Que JVI Imports, the import division of John Vena Inc. Specialty Produce. They’re officially trialing gold pineapples out of Panama.
But what makes a Panama pineapple stand out from the rest? We have all the answers right here. Read on to find out how Panama pineapples compare to other gold pineapples on the market for merchandising and foodservice professionals.
Why Gold Pineapples from Panama?
JVI Imports’ gold pineapples are grown in the La Chorrera region of Panama. This area is known as the heart of pineapple production in Panama. Think of La Chorrera like the Michoacán region in Mexico for hass avocados, but for pineapples. The fruit thrives in this region thanks to the perfect combination of growing conditions: volcanic soil, elevation, and rainfall. These ideal conditions allow Panama to produce a consistent, year-round supply of gold pineapples. La Chorrera is also conveniently located in close proximity to the Panama Canal.
In the world of pineapples, there’s a lot of supermarket giants that dominate the market with pre-determined programs from well-established growers and shippers. This negatively impacts the ability of smaller businesses to thrive in the pineapple market. Panama primarily serves the European market in pineapples, making these a relatively new country of origin for the US. The addition of Panama supplies will increase volume on the local market for both retail and foodservice.
What do Gold Pineapples from Panama Taste Like?
Gold pineapples are well known for their bright tropical flavor. They’re often described as sweet and tart with fibrous flesh. Gold pineapples out of Panama feature the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness.
How to Store Gold Pineapples from Panama
Panama pineapples are stored similar to a typical gold pineapple – they require no special treatment compared to other pines on the market. They are not sensitive to ethylene but do experience chilling injury when stored at temperatures below 45°F.
When storing, it’s also important to handle pineapples with care. Despite their tough-looking exterior, pineapples are actually very delicate and bruise easily.
How to Merchandise Panama Pineapples
Pineapples are a popular item on many grocery store shelves. Panamanian pineapples will sell themselves right alongside other gold pineapples. When merchandising, it’s important to merchandise outside of cold storage in order to preserve shelf-life. Stacking should be kept minimal in displays to avoid damage to the fruit.
Pineapples can also be cross-merchandised with a number of other tropical fruits, such as mangoes, gold kiwi, and passionfruit. Displays can also be built around close flavor pairings. Consider creating a make-your-own salsa display that cross-merchandises jalapeño, cilantro, and lime with the Panama gold pineapples.
To minimize waste, consider incorporating freshly cut pineapple into shelves. Consider offering cored packs of pineapple or adding them into fruit trays.
How to Use Panama Pineapples in the Kitchen
Gold pineapples from Panama can be used across all parts of the menu – they’re that versatile! Starting with the drink menu, there’s a number of drinks gold pineapples can be used in. They can be juiced as part of a healthy smoothie or added to a refreshing piña colada. Jumping all the way to the dessert menu, gold pineapples can be used to make infamous pineapple upside cakes (plus many other desserts).
Pineapples are also an important part of many Southeast Asian dishes. In sweet and sour dishes, like Vietnamese fish soup or Chinese sweet and sour pork, the juice of the pineapple is often used in marinades to infuse flavor and make meats more tender.
Overall, pineapples can be used in both sweet and savory applications. To minimize waste in the kitchen, use the skin as a serving vessel or the crown as a decorative element in catering spreads.
What Should I do with all this Information?
Now that you know all about Panama gold pineapples and how to use them, you may ask yourself, now what?
Well, the answer is simple. You start by determining your pineapple needs. Does your company have room to grow in the pineapple sector? Are pineapples something your audience wants or needs? From there, determine the volume and pineapple programs that would meet your business needs.
After determining your needs, consider visiting the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market. See Panama gold pineapples before purchasing by visiting John Vena Inc. in the F-tower.
If you’re not close to Philadelphia, you can always contact JVI to determine logistics and how you can get your hands on Panama gold pineapples.