While this sweet-yet-tart fruit is perhaps most famous for its role in a classically beloved alcoholic beverage — the piña colada — the pineapple is also quite popular as an eaten snack, especially in its dehydrated form. Whether cut, diced, or sliced, this ground-grown prickly fruit offers a plethora of health benefits.
Dehydrated pineapple’s nutritional value and sustainability make it a popular choice for ingredient procurement directors in industries ranging from food manufacturing and food processing to consumer packaged goods.
Interested in exploring the uses for pineapple in your product offering? Read on to learn about the benefits of this incredible fruit, and what makes dehydrated pineapple such a popular ingredient among consumers.
What’s So Great About Pineapple?
Pineapple is a tropical climate fruit, with a peak season that varies depending on the location, making it easy to obtain at nearly any time of year. Some destinations in the Caribbean even have two fruiting seasons per year — one from December to February and another from August to September. Because it’s available year-round, it makes a smart ingredient for health food snacks and dried fruit mixes.
Beyond the convenience of harvesting and acquiring pineapple, the fruit boasts several distinct health benefits that attract consumers. People looking for a more nutritious alternative to candy to satiate their sweet tooth often turn to naturally sweet fruits like pineapple. Those looking for filling snacks to ease hunger between meals turn to this fruit as a healthy source of fiber and fuel.
In addition to the alluringly sweet, tropical taste, pineapple is known for being:
- A great source of dietary fiber, which supports the digestive system
- Rich in vitamin C and ascorbic acid
- Full of manganese, a mineral which supports healthy bones
- A source of bromelain, which can serve as a natural anti-inflammatory
- Rich in vitamin B, which helps the body produce energy
- Low-calorie and low in sodium
How Can Pineapple Be Used?
While dehydrated pineapple can certainly be marketed as its own snack, when purchased as an ingredient, it has tremendous potential to be added to fruit mixtures, granola, protein bars, energy bars, and more. Dried pineapple chunks can add a sweet tang to sausages, meatballs, and even burgers for a flavorful meal option.
As a professional in the food processing or manufacturing world, adding pineapple to your list of ingredients adds exponential value to your product line-up. Consider combining pineapple in a blend with bolder and spicier ingredients, to create a sweet and spicy flavor profile for your consumers. From a food industry standpoint, dehydrated pineapple can be:
- Used as part of a mixed dried fruit blend or trail mix
- Added to granola bars
- Mixed into scones or other baked goods
- Combined with coconut and granola for a cereal mix
- Used as a sweet ingredient in meatballs, sausage, and more
Reselling dehydrated pineapple on its own as a consumer packaged good is also a viable option. You can recommend your customers use dried pineapple as:
- An ingredient in their favorite guacamole recipe to add a sweet element
- The perfect addition to a sweet and savory charcuterie board
- A nutritious part of a homemade snack mix, along with nuts and other dried fruits
- A delicious oatmeal topping
- Something to be dipped in melted chocolate for homemade fondue
With so many possibilities for dehydrated pineapple, it’s easy to see why it’s a popular ingredient for health-conscious food companies. Even better, the promise of pineapple is looking good worldwide.
What is the Market for Dehydrated Pineapple Like?
As the market for organic fruit booms in the EU, the potential for opportunities to sell dried fruit products is also increasing at a breakneck pace. Driven by healthy food trends and health-conscious brands, the demand for dehydrated pineapple — both sold alone and as an ingredient in pre-packaged food — is truly impressive.
In a report published in late 2017, Fresh Plaza noted that with a growing number of countries producing pineapple, the market for this fruit is thriving. Countries from Costa Rica to the Philippines are creating more efficient means to grow and ship pineapple. The prospects for all forms of pineapple, including dehydrated pineapple, are already strong and only getting stronger.
Interested in adding dehydrated pineapple to your ingredient list? At Seawind Foods, we offer a variety of dried pineapple products. Our no sugar added pineapple is harvested, peeled, and cut without anti-caking additives, sugar, or sulphur dioxide added. If you’re looking for a sweeter option, our low sweet pineapple is simply soaked in water and cane sugar to provide a sweet treat. We also offer a tropical fruit blend, which features pineapple alongside papaya and mango, for a flavorful assortment of fruit.
Contact Seawind Foods today to order a sample or to find out more about our array of dehydrated pineapple products for manufacturers and processors.
