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Featured Posts
- Shake It Up with “The Perfect Pineapple” Punch
- The Traveling Pineapple: Asia
- The Traveling Pineapple: Canada
- 10 Health Facts That Will Make You Fall for Pineapple
- Piña Colada Pie in a Jar
- How to Carve a Halloween Pineapple in 3 Easy Steps!
- This Week at the Source: Week 35
- 5 Reasons Why Pineapples are the New Halloween Pumpkin
- Pineapple Banana Orange Popsicles
- Superbug may have met its match….the Pineapple
Tips & Tall Tales
Shake It Up with “The Perfect Pineapple” Punch
Impress your guests this holiday season with the Perfect Pineapple Punch, a tantalizing cocktail that utilizes fresh, ripe Chestnut Hill Farms pineapples. We worked with one of Florida’s best bartenders, Josue Romero (otherwise known as The Garnish Guy) from Odd Birds Bar in St. Augustine to shake up a unique cocktail that will inspire thoughts of warm breezes and tiny umbrellas, no matter what the weather.
The Perfect Pineapple Punch
Ingredients:
- 1 Chestnut Hill Farms Pineapple, cored and sliced
- 1 1/2 oz Plantation Pineapple Rum
- 1 oz Diplomatico Rum
- 3/4 oz Giffard Orgeat Syrup
- 1/2 oz Allspice Dram
- 1 oz Lime Juice
- 1 oz Passion Fruit Juice (Alternative – Fresh Pineapple Juice from your Chestnut Hill Farms pineapple)
- 10 Drops Hibiscus Bitters (Alternative – 3-4 drops Angostura Bitters)
Directions:
Slice off the top of a Chestnut Hill Farms pineapple and core until the inside of the pineapple is hollow using a slicer or knife. Remove pineapple meat and place to side, conserving any juice.
Add 1 1/2 oz Plantation Pineapple Rum, 1 oz Diplomatico Rum, 1/2 oz Allspice Dram, 3/4 oz Giffard Orgeat, 1 oz Passion Fruit or Pineapple Juice, 1 oz Lime Juice, and bitters into a shaker. Add ice into shaker, close lid, and shake for approximately 10 seconds.
Add ice into cored Chestnut Hill Farms pineapple, and strain cocktail from shaker over the ice. Garnish with fresh Chestnut Hill Farms pineapple slices and enjoy!
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The Traveling Pineapple: Canada
Adventures of the Traveling Pineapple
Our pineapples travel all around the world from the farms of Costa Rica. Most recently we were in Canada hand-delivering fresh fruit with quality inspections and care. We believe in customer relationships, and with that ensuring that the perfect pineapple is just right for our stores and distributors. Check out some photos below of some of our recent travels to Canada, and stay tuned for more photos and updates as our pineapples travel around the world.
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Posted in Featured, Latest News, Tips & Tall Tales
Tagged adventure, canada, costa rica, farming, food distribution, fruit, pineapple, pineapple farming, travel
10 Health Facts That Will Make You Fall for Pineapple
Did you know that fall is one of the best times of year to reap the production of sweet ripe pineapple from our farms in Costa Rica? Not only can you incorporate pineapples into your fall decor (click here to watch a video on how to carve your own Pineapple Jack-o-lantern!), but pineapples are a healthy snack that have plenty of health benefits to boot.
1. Good for your Health Carbs
- One cup (165 grams) of pineapple contains 21.7 grams of carbohydrates and 2.3 grams of fiber, meaning that 19.4 grams of digestible carbs are in each cup.
- Pineapple does not have a huge impact on blood sugar levels (at least not in healthy people).
2. Excellent Fiber
- One cup of pineapple contains 2 grams of fiber, almost all insoluble (99%).
- Insoluble fibers reduce the risk of type two diabetes and digestion.
3. Vitamins & Minerals
One cup of pineapple provides 132% of the recommended daily intake for Vitamin C and 76% of manganese. Pineapples also contain copper, a trace mineral critical for many important functions in the body, such as producing red blood cells, and Folate (B9), which is important for regular function of cells and tissue growth. Folate is very important for women who are pregnant.
4. Lowered Cancer Risk
- A main cause of death around the world, cancer is mainly characterized by uncontrollable cell growth that harms surrounding tissues.
- Diets high in yellow vegetables and fruit (like pineapples!) reduce the risk of colon cancer.
- Various test-tube studies have shown that bromelain, present in pineapples, may prevent the growth of cancer cells and lead them to cell death.
5. Improves Immunity
Bromelain has been proven in studies to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation, and may stimulate immune responses, thus reducing the severity of inflammation, and have beneficial effects in asthma and allergic airway diseases.
Consuming pineapple or taking a bromelain supplement may shorten the timeline of sinus infections, prevent blood clots, reduce inflammation, and stimulate immune responses, especially in kids.
6. Amazing Plant Compounds
- Only found in pineapple, bromelain is a unique protein-digesting enzyme. It also reduces the risk of cancer, heals wounds, and improves tummy health.
- Anthocyanins: Pineapple contains low amounts of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that helps reduce the risk of many diseases, like heart disease.
- (Thanks to bromelain content, you may use pineapple juice to tenderize meat!)
7. Trims the Waistline
Pineapple makes you feel full and provides energy without adding too many calories. With less thank 60 calories per half cup,
One-half cup of fresh pineapple contains fewer than 60 calories, pineapple has a high water content and is rich in fiber, which keeps you satiated. The golden fruit has also been shown to reduce stomach bloating due to bromelain, which leads to better digestive function and a trimmer waist.
8. Reduces Nausea in Pregnant Women
Pineapple can have a nausea-relieving effect, attributed to high amounts of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B6 that helps relieve the symptoms of pregnancy-induced nausea.
9. Boost Fertility
Foods with high antioxidant content, like pineapple, are recommended for those trying to conceive due to several beneficial vitamins and minerals, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, copper, zinc, and folate.
Many of these elements can help boost fertility in both men and women due to assisting in fighting free radicals.
10. Boosts Blood Circulation
Pineapple produces copper, an essential mineral vital in a number of enzymatic reactions and compounds in the body. Copper is a necessary mineral for the formation of healthy red blood cells, which deliver oxygen to various organ systems and help them to function at optimum levels.
Pineapple also increases cognitive abilities and can maintain neural pathways to prevent neural disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Enjoy pineapple the fun way this autumn and learn how to carve your own pina jack-o-lantern on our Youtube page here!
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Posted in Featured, Latest News, Tips & Tall Tales
How to Carve a Halloween Pineapple in 3 Easy Steps!
Pineapples are the new Pumpkin!
Fall is the perfect time for ripe and ready pineapple production, with some of the sweetest, delicious fruits available and hand-delivered from our farm in Costa Rica. Learn how to utilize this healthy fruit this year while having fun and enjoying healthy Halloween treats.
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Posted in Featured, Latest News, Tips & Tall Tales
5 Reasons Why Pineapples are the New Halloween Pumpkin
Why You Should Fall for Pineapples this Halloween
As summer dwindles down and autumn approaches, now is the time to begin preparing for an abundance of fresh pineapple into our customer’s stores. As we will be discussing in the coming weeks, fall is one of the best times of the year for pineapple production from our farms in Costa Rica. One fun and delicious way to utilize these pinas is to incorporate them into the fun tradition of Halloween carving. We have listed a few reasons below as to why pineapples are the new pumpkin when it comes to fall festivities, and stay tuned for a video coming soon on how to easily carve your own Pineapple Jack-o-Lantern!
1. Availability
Most consumers identify pineapples as a refreshing summer fruit, and though they make the perfect pina colada, autumn is one of the best times of year to reap the benefits of pineapple harvesting. Pineapples are plentiful during the fall, which means stores are able to provide even more shelf space for the delicious fruit, which comes in abundance.
2. Cost efficiency
At under $5 a pop, obtaining a perfect, beautiful pineapple is cost efficient as it is convenient. The famed pumpkin may take the street corner, but pineapples take the cake when it comes to a happy wallet.
3. Snackability
After coring your perfect pineapple with an easy-to-use pineapple slicer, the fruit is immediately ready to enjoy as you carve your tropical creation. Craving Halloween decadence? Try melting dark or milk chocolate on-hand from trick-o-treaters and dipping in the pineapple. Sinfully delicious!
4. Health Benefits
Pineapple fruit contains half of the daily-recommended value of vitamin C and also contains nearly 75 percent of the daily-recommended value of the mineral manganese, which is essential in developing strong bones and connective tissue. Like many other fruits and vegetables, pineapple contains dietary fiber, which is essential in keeping your intestines healthy, but unlike many other fruits and veggies, pineapple contains significant amounts of bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down protein. In addition to having a hearty amount of vitamin C, pineapple’s bromelain may help reduce mucus in the throat and nose, making it a great snack for those with a cold or sinus infections.
5. Simplicity
Creating a pina-lantern is simple, especially with the use of readily-available tools such as the pineapple slicer. Just cut the top off the pineapple, use the tool to core the fruit, and use a carving kit to make your favorite fun or scary pina-face. Stay tuned into our blog and YouTube channel for tips on how to easily make your own in just minutes!
Photo by Amy Covington.
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Posted in Featured, Latest News, Tips & Tall Tales
Superbug may have met its match….the Pineapple
The superbugs have been a growing threat for years due to an over reliance on antibiotics. What if I were to tell you that scientists have discovered another weapon to combat the superbug by simply fighting nature with nature?
Turns out the pineapple is a potential key component in the fight against antibiotic resistant bacteria, also known as the superbug. Studies have shown the enzymes, namely bromelain, contained within the stem and the roots of the pineapples can cure diarrhea in pigs. What a relief for both the pigs and the farmers! This natural solution would reduce the reliance on antibiotics in pig farming while also having the effect of not only diminishing antibiotics in pigs themselves but also reducing the human exposure to antibiotics during consumption.
Scientist believe this may also help reduce diarrhea in humans as well. So the next time you find yourself spending more time in the restroom than the office, try some pineapple, your organization will appreciate it.
Read more from the Sydney Morning Herald to learn about the natural superbug solution
Bromelain has been widely discussed in our blog read more about it here.
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Posted in Featured, Latest News, Tips & Tall Tales
Gimme’ Some Southern Hospitality
Picture courtesy of Zazzle.com
Welcome Y’all!
Our readers originally from the Southern United States – known lovingly as “the South” – know that there are some items found atop a dining room table that are considered quintessential when it comes to entertaining. Quite frankly, any respectable Southern host or hostess couldn’t bare the thought of inviting guests over without these arguably necessary reception pieces.
Sure, the list includes, ice cold sweet tea, warm homemade biscuits and crisp, yet creamy pecans. (Pronounced however you like it!)
Yet, what you you might not realize was also considered a very Southern adornment to the table was…you guessed it, a pineapple! Plenty more pineapples than flowers greeted guests to a family’s home during the 1600s and 1700s.
In fact, during America’s colonial days, a hostess’s ability to have a pineapple for an important dining event said as much about her rank as it did about her resourcefulness. The pineapple served as the ultimate table display and was a conversation starter. Even more interesting, the glowing, golden centerpiece was…rented. That’s right! As this post form Apartment Therapy explains, there is quite a story in the history of the hospitable pineapple.
Yes ma’am. People sure did go to great lengths to be charming and most importantly mind their manners. Now, if that’s not southern hospitality, we don’t know what is.
Y’all come back now, ya hear!
Dr. Lloyd
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Posted in Featured, Tips & Tall Tales
Tagged history, hospitality, south
It’s a Bird. It’s a Plane. It’s the Superfruit!
Pineapples are one of nature’s superfruits. These powerful pieces of produce are loaded with numerous vitamins and minerals. But do you know just how many vitamins and minerals make up the pineapple’s secret identity?
With almost x-ray vision, the Authority Nutrition gives us a closer look at these golden, foot-sized nutritional heroes:
- Vitamin C – Vitamin C is disease’s nemesis. Great for your immune system, Vitamin C also gives you glowing skin. Just one cup of pineapple contains 132% of Vitamin C. KAPOW!
- Manganese – An essential trace mineral, 76% of your daily required manganese intake is found in just one cup of pineapple. BOOM!
- Copper – Pineapples also have good levels of natural copper, a co-creator in red blood cells. ZAP!
- Folate (B9) – A Vitamin B complex, Folate is important for tissue growth and cell function. Especially for women who are pregnant, plenty of Folate is found in a serving of pineapple. WHAAM!
Listen to your body and make sure to feed it right. When it’s time to head to the market, just be sure to call on this superfruit. It’s always here to help!
Enjoy your pineapples!
Dr. Lloyd
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Posted in Featured, Tips & Tall Tales
The Secret Gene
Ah, science!
Since scientists first laid hands on the pineapple back in the early 16th century, they have wondered what this incredibly special fruit is made of. Carefully studying and enjoying the pineapple to find the secret hiding within its core, scientists have actually just learned the genetics under its crown.
In fact, and most interesting to researchers, is the understanding of how a pineapple can withstand droughts. Turns out it all comes down to a familiar process we learned about in grade school. Through recent testing they have learned how pineapples undergo photosynthesis.
The pineapple crop uses “CAM.” CAM stands for crassulacean acid metabolism, a type of photosynthesis that is so unlike the rest of many plant products.
One of the global trade’s most important tropical fruits, pineapples have an annual value of more than eight billion dollars. By furthering understanding the science behind how a pineapple naturally withstands climate changes, farmers like us can better prepare for all types of circumstances.
This article from Reuters.com gives more insight on the genetic secrets of this powerful fruit.
Neat, huh? Science, baby!
Dr. Lloyd
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The Power of Bromelain!
It’s cold and flu season and you are trying your best to avoid getting sick at all costs this winter season. Did you know that you have the secret ingredient right in front of you?
What is this magical medicinal remedy? Bromelain. Bromelain is a very important topic around Lloyd’s Corner since it has the power to cure many ailments. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, bromelain reduces mucus in the throat and nose. It also reduces those pesky, never-ending coughs. If you also feel that you are swelling up due to a fever, bromelain with reduce inflammation and swelling.
Want more information on the secret powers of bromelain? Click here to read more about University of Maryland Medical Center’s study.
Stay healthy!
Dr.Lloyd
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