Mark Stevenson

November 10, 2014

Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

Sustainability of The Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple

To discuss how sustainable a company is you must first understand what

sustainability is. As described in class food sustainability is the relationship between the
environment, social, and economic. How this food item affects these three relationships
determines how sustainable the food item is. The company Del Monte is one of the
largest producers of the pineapple out of Costa Rica could be considered a very
sustainable company and food item. Overall the true sustainability of the Del Monte
Gold Extra Sweet pineapple is very good, it has little environmental impact, supports a
large economy from a developing country, and has social benefits from education to
providing jobs.
Del Monte is one of the largest producers of pineapple, with their famous Del
Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple which leads the market and is credited for the
increase in per capita consumption of fresh pineapples throughout the world (Pineapples
| Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.) But why are pineapples so popular? Del Monte explains
on their website that the pineapple fruit has vitamins, minerals, fiber, and enzymes that
are good for the digestive system and help in maintaining an ideal weight and balanced
nutrition. They also have a great source of anti-oxidants. (Pineapples | Fresh Del Monte
Produce Inc.) These beneficial health factors is only one reason why these pineapples are
so loved, another is the loved taste of pineapple!

Mark Stevenson
November 10, 2014
Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

The Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple is largely grown in Costa Rica.
Although Del Monte has other farms located in other countries the Costa Rica farm is its
largest and most producing farm for pineapples. The growing of these pineapples in this
area is prime due to the sub-tropical climate that the pineapples need for growth. The Del
Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple is grown being grown in Costa Rica it can be
shipped anywhere around the world. With the largest consumer of pineapple being the
United States (The Top 5 Countries That Import the Most Pineapples), in The United
States the Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple has four different uses in the
pineapple market: fresh (60%), fresh cut (15%), juice (20%), and frozen (5%). Quality
determines what market the pineapple is channeled into. If the fruit has no blemishes or
cosmetic imperfections it is sent to the fresh market. If the fruit has some cosmetic
imperfections it will be sent into the fresh cut market. If the fruit has over matured or has
too many cosmetic imperfections it will be sent to the juice or frozen market. (Young,
Thomas)
Understanding the markets for the pineapple is important for any company that
produces pineapples, but where and how are these pineapples grown that we buy from
our local grocery store? The pineapple is not a fruit that can be locally grown so that rules
out local farmers. The pineapple needs a sub-tropical climate, the United States does not
have many sub tropical climates so that rules out pineapples being grown in the
continental united states. In fact the only place in the United States that pineapples can be
grown is in the state of Hawaii. This is where Del Monte got its start in 1961. But after 90

Mark Stevenson
November 10, 2014
Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

years Del Monte will be outsourcing the jobs to other countries. (USATODAY.com - Del
Monte Stops Pineapple Growing in Hawaii) The reason behind the outsourcing of the
jobs is because Del Monte found that growing pineapples in Hawaii was no longer
economically feasible, (USATODAY.com - Del Monte Stops Pineapple Growing in
Hawaii) meaning that the company can produce the pineapple in other countries for less.
This is how Del Monte came to be in Costa Rica, this country has exactly what the
company needs for a very profitable industrialized pineapple production farm. Costa Rica
with its cheaper labor and sub-tropical climate was perfect, so how does it get to the
United States?
Lets start from the beginning to answer that question; the pineapple starts out as a
seed just as any other plant does. But is this seed genetically modified? In todays world it
wouldnt be a surprise if the pineapple seed were also converted to benefit human
consumption. The answer to that is no, the Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple is
not genetically modified. In fact Del Monte Fresh Produce does not distribute, sell or
markets any genetically modified products including our premium Del Monte Gold
Extra Sweet pineapples which was developed using conventional breeding techniques.
(Del Monte Fresh Produce) So the pineapple is grown conventionally on a large-scale
basis in Costa Rica and is shipped to the United States.
Producing the pineapple is no easy task and it is taken on by thousands of
employees of Del Monte. The process begins with the land being tilled and cultivated.
Following that workers come through and hand plant the stocks of the pineapple. Once

Mark Stevenson
November 10, 2014
Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

the stocks are planted the pineapple is heavily watered and fertilized which induces
growth. When it comes time to harvest the pineapples the workers pick them and load
them onto farm equipment for them to be taken to the production plant where they will be
washed, sorted, and some are tested for quality. After they have gone through this process
they are loaded onto an eighteen-wheeler and taken to the port where they can be sent
anywhere in the world to one of Del Montes distribution centers. From these distribution
centers the pineapples will be sent into their selected markets and sent out again. (Del
Monte | Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple Production)
The growing and shipping of the Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple all
play a part in determining how sustainable this food item is. How Del Monte deals with
the environment is very important they take several steps in ensure that no harm is being
done to the environment, or at least as little harm as possible. Some steps that are taken
that effect the soil portion of the environment, including taking soil and leaf tissue
samples to monitor the nutrients that are in the soil. These tests determine how much
fertilizer needs to be added to ensure that the plants are getting the proper nutrients. (Soil
Quality | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.) Over fertilizing the plants can have negative
effects on the environment, from causing water issues in lakes and rivers that can harm
wildlife. Del Monte also uses plastic mulch to help control soil erosion as well as water
evaporation from the soil. (Soil Quality | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.) The soil is only
part of the environment though; water is another part that Del Monte concentrates on with
their pineapple farms. With water meters being placed along the main water pipe lines

Mark Stevenson
November 10, 2014
Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

Del Monte can monitor how much water is being used while irrigating the pineapple
plants. This is also beneficial in that the company can factor in the amount of rainfall so
that they do not use more water than what is needed, thus using water more efficiently.
(Water Quantity | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.) Del Monte does a very good job
ensuring that little harm is done to the environment; from shipping to planting the crops,
how the environment is effected is always a factor.
Del Monte and their Gold Extra Sweet pineapple also have positive effects on
not only Costa Ricas economy but also the world economy. With Del Monte Gold
Extra Sweet pineapple being the best selling pineapple in the world (Frank, Robert)
With Del Monte holding this title it makes competition work harder to compete and what
is at stake is a world-wide market valued at more than $1 billion a year. (Frank, Robert)
Competition is important in any market it ensures that there are no monopolies in a
market. Competitions such as Dole Food compete with Del Monte; this competition
brings upon shady acts and lawsuits between the companies. Including the lawsuit Del
Monte took out on Dole over material being taken unlawfully from a Del Monte
plantation in Costa Rica. (Dole Food Is Sued By Del Monte Fresh Over Pineapple
Brand). These competitions are understood because of this market being valued at $1
billion a year it shows that the pineapple market is a large-scale market; this is very
beneficial to Costa Rica because is a developing country. Having Costa Rica in this large
of a market gives them a place among the world in a market, this is important because the
country will gain power and money though this market. Del Monte is such a large

Mark Stevenson
November 10, 2014
Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

company with $2 billion in revenue in 2002 with $440 million of that coming from the
production of pineapples (Frank, Robert) it having production facilities in Costa Rica is
very important to the local economy. The global economy of pineapples will positively
affect the local economy of Costa Rica thus creating more jobs and furthering the
development of the country.
The economy is not the only thing that Costa Rica benefits from the pineapple.
Costa Ricans that work for Del Monte benefit from medical care for employees and their
family. (Health & Safety Support | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.) In a developing
country with little to know health care this is a huge factor that effects how sustainable
the company is. The company is not only looking out for their profits but also their
employees and their families. But it doesnt stop there; employees are not the only ones
who benefit from Del Monte being in Costa Rica. Local schools benefit from school
supplies being donated and other educational programs that can teach young minds that
might not have the opportunity if the company wasnt around. (Education | Fresh Del
Monte Produce Inc.) With Costa Rica being a developing country and the Del Monte
Company providing jobs this will further feed the economy and also have positive social
effects on the community. Providing jobs will help the fight against food deserts in that
people will be able to further afford better food for themselves and their families this
means that these people will be able to have healthier food options.
The company has positive relationships with the environment, the economy, and
its social aspects in Costa Rica The Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple is very

Mark Stevenson
November 10, 2014
Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

important to the Costa Rica society and supports it in many ways. The pineapples
sustainability will help with the growing of Costa Rica and is needed for its future in the
world markets. Del Monte has made it a point to be a sustainable company with their
pineapple production and to conclude I would have to say that they are doing a good job
in the three fields of sustainability: economy, environment, and social.

Mark Stevenson
November 10, 2014
Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

Works Consulted
Del Monte | Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Pineapple Production. YouTube, 6:54.
Posted by Del Monte Arabi, uploaded July 23, 2103.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHr0T3cS21s>.
"Dole Food Is Sued By Del Monte Fresh Over Pineapple Brand." The Wall Street
Journal. Dow Jones & Company Inc., 03 Apr. 2000. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
<http://search.proquest.com/wallstreetjournal/docview/398723066/A7DD74CCD
DBE4F69PQ/2?accountid=14605>.
Del Monte Fresh Produce. "Re: Too Bad about Your GMO Pineapples. I Used to Buy
One Every Week from BJs." Web log comment. Facebook. N.p., 03 June 2013.
Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
<https://www.facebook.com/DelMonteFreshProduce/posts/10152866695390537>
.
"Education | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc." Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. N.p., n.d.
Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Frank, Robert. "Juicy Details: Going for 'The Gold' Turns Pineapple World Upside
Down; Rush Is On to Grow Versions Of Fresh Del Monte's Fruit; Patent,
Lawsuits, Guards; Mystery of the Seven Seeds." The Wall Street Journal. Dow
Jones & Company Inc., 07 Oct. 2003. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
<http://search.proquest.com/wallstreetjournal/docview/398879847/98777FA3F08
D4782PQ/1?accountid=14605>.
"Health & Safety Support | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc." Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.
N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Pineapple Emoji. N.d. Pineapple Emoji. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
<http://emojipedia.org/pineapple/>.
"Pineapples | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc." Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. N.p., n.d.
Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
"Soil Quality | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc." Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. N.p., n.d.
Web. 10 Nov. 2014
"The Top 5 Countries That Import the Most Pineapples." The Top 5 Countries That
Import the Most Pineapples. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

Mark Stevenson
November 10, 2014
Food Ecosystem Study Part 1

"USATODAY.com - Del Monte Stops Pineapple Growing in Hawaii."

USATODAY.com - Del Monte Stops Pineapple Growing in Hawaii. N.p., 02 Feb.
2006. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
"Water Quantity | Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc." Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Young, Thomas. "Del Monte Fresh Produce Company." Letter to Mr. Michael C.
Gregori. 30 July 2012. MS. United States Department of Agriculture, Riverdale,
MD.