And we thought the $19 Erewhon strawberry was overpriced! Apparently it's not even worth a double take, when you compare it to Fresh Del Monte's $395.99 RubyGlow pineapple. The designer produce, which sold out last year and is produced in Costa Rica, is making its return to the United States on March 4 and there's already a waitlist to get your hands on it.
With a price tag with that many zeroes simply for one 1.5-lb. fruit, it makes us wonder...are they using the country's entire supply of water to grow these things??Good guess, but, according to Chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte Produce, Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, the high price tag is indicative of the length of time they take to grow, along with their limited supply.
The RubyGlow pineapple is a hybrid fruit that combines a classic pineapple variety with the rare Morada pineapple, giving it a ruby-colored exterior and vibrant yellow interior. Because cultivation is quite meticulous, the amount of fruit the company is able to produce is quite limited—only a few thousand.
Prior to its initial launch, the RubyGlow pineapple was in development for 15 years to ensure that it "exceeded our expectations for quality, flavor, and aesthetics," explained Abu-Ghazaleh. The pineapples themselves take two years to grow and have a very limited seed supply. However each year the seed supply grows from the season's prior crop, so in time, the price will likely go down (hopefully?).
As to be expected with such a sky high price, consumers are equal parts intrigued and flabbergasted.
Eagle-eyed fans caught that this variety doesn't come with the ubiquitous stem. "It’s amazing how they didn’t include the crown leaves to ensure that you don’t start growing it and propagating it," commented one person.
On another TikTok about the fruit, one person wrote, "We barely have enough for a regular pineapple, eff outta here! 😂"
One user wrote, "That pineapple better have the fountain of youth in it for that price."
"Bro I don't even got car insurance," another commented.
There were, however, some people who seemed excited about the prospect of buying this pricey item. "So pretty!! I love the pink glow, look forward to trying this one some day!" commented one person.
"Omg I want to try!" said another.
And if this pineapple shocks you, just know that it's surprisingly not the priciest fruit on the market. Kyodo News reported that a pair of Yubari King Melons sold for the equivalent of $25,000 back in 2023. Comparatively, these are a steal!
