Pineapples Aren’t Native To Hawaii: The Story Of James Dole And Hawaiian Gold

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Hawaii and pineapple go hand in hand...but it wasn't always so. Source: (7-min.com)

(Photo by Jonathan Colon)

Despite all evidence to the contrary, pineapples are not a native fruit of Hawaii. However, the rich Hawaiian soil and the balmy climate make it an ideal location for growing the tasty fruit. That, combined with the marketing genius of a Harvard-educated agriculturist/entrepreneur with an eye toward improving Hawaii's economy, led to the pineapple's close association with the state. Let's look at how this came about.