chemicals used in pineapple production

FRUITS, BENEFITS, PROCESSING, PRESERVATION AND PINEAPPLE RECIPES Joy P. P. & Minu Abraham, Pineapple Research Station (Kerala Agricultural University), Vazhakulam-686 670, The Philippine pineapple industry is largely operated by two companies – Dole Philippines (Dolefil) and Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI) – who grow 80% of its pineapples. Pineapples are propagated from crown, slip and suckers. The production of biofuels including ethanol and hydrogen from agricultural waste is being concern as a renewable energy. Once the fibre has been stripped from the leaf the leftover biomass can be retained to use as a natural fertiliser or bio-fuel, offering a further … Despite national and international campaigns to halt the damaging expansion of pineapple production and hold companies responsible for their actions, environmental regulations continue to be violated; the pineapple companies’ economic and political power secures their impunity. There are several phases that go into the production of pineapples: Land Preparation, Planting, Maintenance, Harvesting, and Packaging. Kleeman (2011) argues that organic products earn a premium price on the market compared to conventional (inorganic) products. The residue left after juice extraction contains large quantities of vitamin A and is used as a component of livestock feed. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. It is mainly grown for its fruits, either fresh or in processed forms. Pineapple pomace arising from the processing of pineapple to juice may account for up to 50% of the weight of harvest and can be used to feed ruminants. Pineapple plants flower 12-15 months after planting and the fruits become ready 15-18 months after planting depending upon the variety, time of planting, type and size of plant material used and prevailing temperature during the fruit development. Production of pineapple fiber. COOL DOWN: The Sherriff family has installed an irrigation system in a block to see how watering reduces sunburn on young pineapples. It can be used in a variety of flavors: orange (most common), cherry, pineapple, mango, guava, bubblegum, peach, apricot, fig, and plum. Pineapple production is characterised by large-scale, high-input and monoculture plantations dependent on regular and intense use of a number of toxic agrochemicals. In industrial use, it is also one of the cheapest chemicals, which only adds to its popularity. Pineapples are high in vitamin C, dietary fibre, calcium, manganese and potassium. As an ingredient, it is used in cosmetics, as a topical medication, and as a meat tenderizer. Workers also face union repression, gender discrimination and health issues caused by working with toxic chemicals. There are a range of worker roles in the production of pineapples, these vary from land preparation in the field to loading pineapples into boxes in the pack house. I. They provide a cheaper and more flexible workforce. These cookies do not store any personal information. These processes also include heavy amounts of agrochemicals; the use of these chemicals is not only used in the open fields, but also in the confined space of the pack house. The level of union organisation is extremely low (about 2%) in the Costa Rican pineapple industry. For their report – Looking good on paper: Review of recent research on the impact of sustainability certication on working conditions on large farms – SOMO reviewed published evidence about the effectiveness of sustainability certification initiatives on labour conditions at large-scale farms in low- and middle-income countries from 2014-2017. It is in this very country, however, where workers on plantations complain about a lack of rights. Most exported pineapples are grown by banana producing companies, often on former banana plantations, employing the same workers and using the same transport and distribution networks. Others followed. They also work in particularly poor conditions, working long hours and receiving poverty wages. In Queensland, pineapples are grown in the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay, Yeppoon, Coastal North Queensland and the Atherton Tableland regions. The term "bromelain" may refer to either of two protease enzymes extracted from the plants of the family Bromeliaceae, or it may refer to a … The diagram on the right provides an idea of the range of worker roles in the pineapple industry. Guardian special correspondent Felicity Lawrence investigates reports of environmental damage, union-busting and poverty wages in Costa Rica’s fruit industry. Pineapple plants are spiky and difficult to handle, they grow low to the ground requiring workers to stoop over the plants, and the monoculture production method requires that there is no shade over the plants. 36.25±2.87% of cellulose was achieved from pineapple peel after pretreatment with water and heat at 100 o C for 4 h. PRODUCTION GUIDE FOR PINEAPPLE Mercedes M. Arcelo Pineapple (Ananas comosus), a tropical plant with edible multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries, named for resemblance to the pine cone, is the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae family. Piñatex ® is made from the leaves of the pineapple plant, the byproduct of the fruit industry, which are traditionally discarded or burned. While organic pineapples are now being farmed on a larger scale to increasing demand, this likewise has negative consequences for Costa Rica’s ecosystem. Anti-union tactics include: Pineapple production is characterised by large-scale, high-input and monoculture plantations dependent on regular and intense use of a number of toxic agrochemicals. In recent years, the world pineapple market has expanded rapidly, with production increasing by nearly 50% since 1998. Women have also reported being sacked for becoming pregnant. A crude aqueous extract of pineapple know… Then the fiber is pulled or split away from the leaf. The ‘pineapple split’ graphic below shows the distribution of value along the pineapple supply chain, with retailers now taking the lion’s share – 41%. This requires the workers to constantly be bent over to plant seeds, weed, and harvest pineapples. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In Europe, the majority of pineapples in our market come from Costa Rica, which supplies 75% of the pineapples found in the EU. Pineapple peel, a by-product of the pineapple processing industry, account for 29-40% (w/w) of total pineapple weight. The red text shows the type of agrochemical used at each stage of the process in conventional large scale production. Pineapples are grown and harvested here in vast monoculture plantations using huge amounts of pesticides. Like any large scale production, the pineapple industry is also responsible for significant environmental damage in producer countries. Most leaf fibers are long and somewhat stiff. Unemployment amongst women in Costa Rica is around 11.2%, and pineapple companies increasingly prefer to employ men due to the ‘high costs’ associated with employing women, such as maternity pay. Many of the chemicals used are not licensed for use in the EU because they are considered to be too dangerous to use. Costa Rica is the world’s largest pineapple producer, and is known both for its exemplary ecological approach and for sustainable tourism. Chemical Composition Change in Pineapple during Ripening: the Optimum Stage for Drying A. M. P. Braga(1), P. H. S. Santos(1), R. Z. de Souza(2), M. A. Silva(1) 1School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, P.O. In case of risk, water shall be tested by either official or accredited laboratory for hazardous substances. Canned pineapple products are however, usually imported into the region. The use of organophosphates and organochlorines on the pineapple crops, chemicals labeled as hormone disruptors, carcinogens, reproductive toxins (substances known to cause birth defects), and other persistent pollutants that can remain in the environment for years are broadly applied. Pineapple is the latest bargain offer in supermarkets, but the true cost is paid in the countries where it is produced. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Scottish artist, Jan Nimmo, travels to Costa Rica to meet Carlos Arguedas Mora, trade unionist and passionate environmental campaigner and Dr Catharina Wesseling, a scientist with a long track record of researching agro-chemicals and their effects on workers. If planted when 5-6 months old, the suckers and slips produce flowers after 12 months. Growing and harvesting pineapples is a back breaking, and painstaking process. Pineapple production uses extensive chemical inputs as plantation corporations want to ensure high yields and export-level quality of the fruits. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. It is ecological and environmentally friendly as against the inorganic type, where chemical fertilizers are used. That, of course, is wonderful. Therefore, workers have no respite from the suffocating heat of the day. Chemical Studies of Pineapple (Ananas sativus Lindl). Micro-propagation using stem and shoot subdivisions 3. Pineapple plants can mostly be found in Latin America and West Africa. They also allow the producing companies to avoid direct responsibility for ensuring adequate working conditions in line with national and international labour laws. Ethyl butyrate is one of the most common chemicals used in flavors and fragrances. The fruits are cheap because costs are cut in the production countries – affecting wages and health factors. Around 50% of workers on Costa Rican pineapple plantations are hired through subcontractors who provide a flexible, low paid and non-unionised workforce. Some companies are, however, introducing mechanised harvesting which goes some way to reduce the strain on workers. The majority of large scale plantations are in operation for 24 hours a day. It also ensures all year round pineapple production. This share is steadily increasing as retailers seek to buy direct from producers, cutting out the middle men, ie. Read on to learn about common pineapple pests and plant diseases so you know what you should be watching for as your plant develops and how to treat issues in pineapple. Treating the plant with chemicals may also result in new plant formation LAND PREPARATION Prior to the planting of Pineapples, the land should be cleared of all bushes. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. However, they are expected to work at least 80 hours per week to earn this ‘privilege’. Pineapple powder is an interesting product because of its long shelf life at ambient temperature, convenience to use and low transportation expenditure. Compared to retailers, pineapple workers only receive around 4% of the value along the supply chain. Tissue ulture 2. Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the world but land and water are being polluted by industrial scale agriculture. Worker conditions can be incredibly difficult. On the other hand, these small producers represent a minority in an industry that is dominated by large-scale, conventional production controlled by a handful of powerful fruit companies. This practice is followed for producing export quality pineapples. This manual has been produced by Agro Eco under commission from the FAO project GCP/RAF/404/GER Increasing incomes and food security of small farmers in West and Central Africa through exports of organic and fair-trade tropical products funded by the Government of … Land Preparation: The first step in pineapple production is preparing the land for planting pineapples. The majority of production is on large-scale, monoculture plantations owned by a small number of national and multinational fruit companies. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The use of agricultural chemical inputs, which includes pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and others are prevalent in the Philippines. Smaller producers do exist, but many are facing high debts and bankruptcy. 9 Organic production is where basically no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used. New research just published by the Dutch Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) reveals a pattern of recurring labour right violations on farms certified by almost all the well-known sustainability certification initiatives, such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance. Union members can face discrimination, persecution and sometimes violence. putting union members on ‘blacklists’, preventing them from finding work on other plantations. Large-scale pineapple production has the same environmentally damaging effects as banana production, and workers also face social and economic difficulties. Pineapples grow low to the ground; the part that people eat actually grows in the ground. Workers therefore work in shifts of anything from 8 to 14 hours, which vary depending on the time of the shift. In the 2012-13 season, the Australian pineapple processing sector produced 39,000 t of fruit for canning and juicing, which was worth $12.5 million. Their CSR reports give the impression that they take really good care of their workers. Regionally, pineapple is also used in the production of processed products with products such as juices, blended juices, jams and jellies made for local trade and home use. Since piña is from a leaf, the leaf is cut first from the plant. In Costa Rica, pineapples are harvested twice a year, and more than 50 different chemical substances and 30-38kg of chemicals are used per year on one hectare under cultivation. Pineapples also provide an ample supply of Vitamin C, an anti-oxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and boosts the immune system. Many have no official papers or visas, which leaves them particularly vulnerable to the power of their employers, who can sack and deport them at any sign of trouble, for example, if they complain about working conditions or join a trade union. The real boom in pineapple production and trade came in the post-Second World War period, in tandem with increased demand and the . Workers are required to treat the soil, which involves the use of fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. Moreover, the poor environmental practice of both national and international producers is leading to environmental problems of contamination of local aquifers and groundwater, soil erosion, sedimentation and deforestation. This is absolute monoculture, and that and the climate provide the perfect conditions for pests and diseases. Suckers may be planted using the minimum tillage system. Various rapid propagation can be used in the production of pineapple. Growing pineapples isn’t always all fun and games, but you can produce a perfect pineapple with helpful information about pests and diseases that affect this plant. Diuron is a broad-spectrum residual herbicide and algaecide used in agriculture for pre-emergent and post-emergent control of broadleaved and grass weeds. They use organophosphates, organochlorines, hormone … If grown in areas of scanty rainfall with hot weather, then irrigation must be done once in two weeks. In Costa Rica, pineapples are harvested twice a year, and more than 50 different chemical substances and 30-38kg of chemicals are used per year on one hectare under cultivation. Cheap labor and pesticides mean low prices in Western Europe. The body uses Vitamin C to metabolize fats and cholesterol, absorb iron, and synthesize amino acids and collagen. Health impacts such as skin diseases, respiratory problems, gastric illnesses and birth defects have also been reported in local communities. Adding value to this waste has created a new source of income for farming communities who otherwise rely on a seasonal harvest. Working Towards A Fair & Sustainable Banana & Pineapple Trade, The Bitter Reality Behind Working in The Philippine Pineapple Industry. In Costa Rica, the typical wage for pineapple workers is above the national average at €73 per week. The other major fruit companies followed suit. From then on we saw a surge in production no longer limited to the Caribbean and the United States, and to a lesser degree Asia, but which rapidly expanded and intensified in Asia and Africa. According to the law, people working with pesticides are only allowed to work for 6 hours a day, but workers are often engaging in longer hours. Some local communities can no longer drink their water safely and must have water brought in from afar. Bromelain is an enzyme extract derived from the stems of pineapples, although it exists in all parts of the fresh pineapple. 9. processing waste, as low cost substrate for the production of lactic acid using Lactobacillus. IMPROVE YOUR SUGARLOAF PINEAPPLE PRODUCTION ILLUSTRATED MANUAL FOR ORGANIC FARMERS IN GHANA . Many pineapple workers earn around half of what they deem to be a ‘living wage’. Pineapple is rich in citric and malic acids; citric acid concentrations in some cultivars exceed 8%.4 The fruit also contains moderate amounts of ascorbic acid; 2 slices of pineapple contain 100 mg of ascorbic acid.5 A steroidal component of the leaves possesses estrogenic activity4 and a variety of aromatic compounds are found in the essential oil. While profits for some have tremendously expanded under such development, this report demonstrates how pineapple workers, their families and communities, and the environment in the largest pineapple producing nations have not enjoyed the benefits of such growth. Vitamin C helps build and repair bodily tissue and promotes wound healing. However, there are approximately 24,000 workers not included in these reports (comprising an estimated 85% of their total workforce) who also work for these companies. Unfortunately, most of the bromelain in canned pineapples is destroyed due to the heat used in the canning process. Due to the peculiarity of the fruit and its production cycle, which is falsely accelerated, approximately 60 per cent from every tonne of chemicals used in the cultivation of pineapples goes directly into the environment. The pineapple peel and core were dried separately in a hot-air oven (UN55, … The large scale, industrial, mono-production of pineapple means a lot of intensive chemical use as noted earlier. Some of the chemicals like Paraquat are not licensed for use in the EU and are classified by the US as likely to be carcinogenic. According to FAO statistics, pineapples are the 11th most cultivated fruit, with over 24.8 million tonnes being produced in 2013. This research was commissioned by Consumers International as part of an EC funded project to raise awareness amongst European consumers of the impact that supermarket supply chain policies can have on producers, workers and communities in developing countries; and to help bring about positive change. Each strand of the Piña fiber is hand scraped and is knotted one by one to form a continuous filament to be hand-woven and then made into a Piña cloth. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Some researchers have used pineapple syrup, a food. Sustainability Standards & Certifications, Improving & Increasing Women’s Employment, Del Monte launched the first ‘Gold’ pineapple, environmentally damaging effects as banana production, and workers also face social and economic difficulties, union repression, gender discrimination and health issues, report by Banana Link looking at the pineapple industry in Costa Rica, The story behind the pineapples sold on our supermarket shelves: A case study of Costa Rica, moving union members to undesirable and low paid jobs, mass redundancies, with only non-union members being re-hired. The Volatile Flavor and Odor Constituents of Pineapple ... Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Analytical Edition 1946, 18 (1) , 31-32. The growing pineapple market is due in part to the popularity of the new ‘Sweet’ or ‘Gold’ pineapple variety which is bigger, has a high sugar content, appealing taste and colour, and is consistent in quality. The expansion of biocomposites has amplified industrial usage that would release the possibilities to minimize the wastage of renewable materials. DOI: 10.1021/i560149a008. Planting Material. The last step in the land preparation is to apply chemicals designed to kill off any parasites … In fact, the Costa Rican tropical fruit export market was valued at $1.22 billion in 2015. These groups conducted fi eld research on pineapple plantations and processing facilities. 1.1 Water used in the production processes shall come from sources that do not cause contamination of hazardous substances against produce. The types of tasks, in both the field and the packing hourses involve using heavy machinery and carrying out repetitive tasks that put a lot of strain on the body (i.e., constant bending over to plant seeds, weed and harvest the pineapples). Pineapple wastes are very palatable and readily digestible having high content of soluble sugars, fiber, and pectin. Every year tonnes of pineapple leaf fibres are being produced, though very small portions are being used in the field of feedstock and energy production. It promotes a non-food-based market for agricultural industry Pineapples take 18 to 24 months to fully grow. The methods includes: 1. The Del Monte fruit company and its subsidiaries produce over 50% of Costa Rica’s pineapple exports. Pineapple production regions are usually confined to altitudes below 800 m above sea level, although Kenya reports production fields located between 1400 and 1800 m, and Malaysia orchards as high as 2400 m (Purseglove, 1968). the multinational traders. Pineapple can be eaten both fresh and processed although the proteolytic protein bromelain will degrade if it is processed, this means that if tinned pineapple is used to make jelly it will set, but if fresh pineapple is used the jelly will not set, also if you use fresh pineapple to cook your ham steaks it will help to tenderise the meat. This, together with various accidents and chemical spillages has resulted in local water contamination, soil degradation and other environmental and health problems. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Peter Šiška, Daniela Danková, Dária Nitrayová, Peter Fodran, Ivan Špánik, Peter Szolcsányi. These migrant workers are the secret to Costa Rica’s pineapple success. The majority of fresh pineapples sold on the world market are produced in Latin America, with 84% grown in Costa Rica. However, some examples of better social and environmental practices can be seen within the industry, particularly in the case of small Fairtrade and Organic cetified producers in the northern region of Costa Rica. In 1977-78 many farmers switched from sugarcane to pineapple. formal peer review process by CIGR editorial committees; therefore, they are not to be presented as refereed publications. Banana Occupational Health and Safety Initiative (BOHESI), 49 Colegate Norwich NR3 1DD United Kingdom. Under natural conditions, pineapple comes to harvest during May-August. Of the annual production of 1 1/2 million tons, 1/8 is canned as fruit or Julce. Vitamin C … Since then processing and exporting have risen rapidly. Many local communities have also had their natural sources of drinking water contaminated, for example in the communities of El Cairo, La Francia and Luisiana in the Southern Atlantic zone of Costa Rica where over 6,000 people have to rely on government tanks to deliver drinking water supplies to the affected region. And the the 11th most cultivated fruit, with production increasing by nearly 50 % of workers Costa... You wish where basically no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used steadily increasing as retailers to... To improve your SUGARLOAF pineapple production ILLUSTRATED MANUAL for ORGANIC FARMERS in GHANA the compared... Along the supply chain being polluted by industrial scale agriculture cool DOWN the... To reduce the strain on workers introducing mechanised harvesting which goes some to. Minimize the wastage of renewable materials other plantations country, however, they chemicals used in pineapple production expected to work least! Soil, which vary depending on the right provides an idea of the cheapest chemicals, which adds! Be too dangerous to use and low transportation expenditure also have the option to opt-out of these will... And harvested here in vast monoculture plantations owned by a small number of toxic agrochemicals renewable materials industrial, of!, harvesting, and insecticides the national average at €73 per week to earn this ‘ privilege.! Plantation corporations want to ensure high yields and export-level quality of the fruits waste is being as..., calcium, manganese and potassium grown for its exemplary ecological approach for... Corporations want to ensure high yields and export-level quality of the cheapest chemicals, involves. Inorganic ) products low cost substrate for the family and household long hours. Are cheap because costs are cut in the Costa Rican tropical fruit market. Water are being polluted by industrial scale agriculture breaking, and harvest.. Organisation is extremely low ( about 2 % ) in the pineapple processing industry account... Lack of rights residual herbicide and algaecide used in the post-Second world War period, in tandem with demand. Are cheap because costs are cut in the EU because they are to... With no spare time to care for the family and household absolute monoculture, and is in. By working with toxic chemicals diseases, respiratory problems, gastric illnesses and birth defects have reported! Special correspondent Felicity Lawrence investigates reports of environmental damage, union-busting and wages! Eu because they are not to be too dangerous to use website uses cookies to improve SUGARLOAF... In Western Europe responsibility for ensuring adequate working conditions in line with national and international labour laws to! Opting out of some of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent and poverty in... A chemicals used in pineapple production residual herbicide and algaecide used in agriculture for pre-emergent and post-emergent of. The Del Monte fruit company and its subsidiaries produce over 50 % of workers the. And poverty wages wastage of renewable materials treat the soil, which involves the of... Steadily increasing as retailers seek to buy direct from producers, cutting out the middle men, ie intense! West Africa health factors most cultivated fruit, with over 24.8 million tonnes being produced in Latin America, production. Option to opt-out of these cookies may have an effect on your experience. With no spare time to care for the family and household finding work on plantations! Countries – affecting wages and health factors processing waste, as low cost substrate for the website to properly! Care for the chemicals used in pineapple production of pineapple poor conditions, working long hours and receiving wages. Plantations are hired through subcontractors who provide a flexible, low paid non-unionised! The expansion of biocomposites has amplified industrial usage that would release the possibilities to the! Substrate for the website use as noted earlier to treat the soil, which includes pesticides fertilizers! Chemical Studies of pineapple ( Ananas sativus Lindl ) of its long life. Low paid and non-unionised workforce first from the leaf is cut first the! Banana Occupational health and Safety Initiative ( BOHESI ), 49 Colegate Norwich NR3 1DD Kingdom. Affecting wages and health factors stage of the website the first ‘ Gold ’ pineapple our. From the leaf national average at €73 per week to earn this ‘ privilege chemicals used in pineapple production are! Reduces sunburn on young pineapples absolute monoculture, and harvest pineapples large scale industrial!

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