National Pineapple Juice Day

Pineapples are like the sun captured in a fruit — spiky on the outside, juicy and sweet inside, with a perfume that transports you to tropical shores. They originate in the lowlands of South America; indigenous peoples in what is now Paraguay and southern Brazil domesticated the plant and spread it throughout the continent and the Caribbean. When Christopher Columbus encountered pineapples in Guadeloupe in 1493, he was impressed enough to bring them back to Europe, where they became symbols of hospitality and wealth. The fruit’s hardiness and sweetness made it a prized trade item. Pineapple cultivation spread to Hawaii in the nineteenth century, where James Dole’s pineapple plantations helped turn the territory into a global supplier. Pineapple juice, extracted from the fibrous fruit, contains bromelain, an enzyme that can tenderize meat and aid digestion. Its tangy sweetness makes it a refreshing beverage and a key ingredient in cocktails like the piña colada.

National Pineapple Juice Day, observed on August 17 (timed to coincide with the 8‑0‑8 area code of Hawaii), was created recently by companies like Dole to celebrate the tropical drink. To honor the day, pour yourself a glass of pure pineapple juice — not from concentrate — and savor its bright acidity and sweetness. Pineapple juice pairs beautifully with sparkling water for a simple spritzer, with coconut milk in a smoothie, or with rum and cream of coconut for a piña colada. It also adds a tropical note to marinades, cakes, glazes and barbecue sauces. Drinking pineapple juice provides vitamin C and manganese and may ease inflammation thanks to bromelain.

On National Pineapple Juice Day, reflect on the pineapple’s journey from South American forests to global kitchens. Consider the labor involved in growing pineapples: each plant produces only one fruit at a time after two years of care. Pineapples don’t continue to ripen after harvest, so growers must pick them at peak ripeness. Support companies that pay fair wages and practice sustainable agriculture. Better yet, buy a whole pineapple, slice it into rings and juice it yourself. The scent of freshly cut pineapple will fill your kitchen and might prompt you to dance. Raise your glass and toast to the farmers who nurture these spiky suns, to the breezes of the tropics and to the sweet tang that makes pineapple juice a taste of vacation in any season.