Pineapples are one of those fruits that instantly make you feel happier when they come into season. There aren’t many feelings that top biting into a freshly sliced pineapple that’s perfectly ripe and sweet.
But if you've ever gone looking for organic pineapples in Australia, you may have noticed something… they’re surprisingly hard to come by.
That’s why we got pretty excited when we managed to get our hands on organic pineapples from Mangoes R Us.
Queensland grows the vast majority of Australia's pineapples, but growing them isn’t exactly as simple as planting a crop and letting nature take care of the rest. Our warm, humid climate is perfect for growing pineapples… unfortunately, it’s also perfect for growing weeds, pests and disease. Turns out we’re not the only ones keen to take a bite of this juicy fruit.
Because of that, conventional pineapple farming often relies on a range of chemical inputs to help keep crops productive, and if you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll know we prefer our fruit and veggies without chemical sprays.
So why are these tropical favourites so difficult to find without a whole bunch of chemicals involved?
Here’s a bit of a breakdown…
Why Pineapples Are So Difficult To Grow Organically
Queensland's warm, humid climate is fantastic for growing pineapples.
Unfortunately, it's also fantastic for growing:
- Weeds
- Fungal diseases
- Insects, mealybugs and other hungry pests
- Soil pathogens
- Moulds and rots
One of the biggest disease pressures in pineapple farming is Phytophthora root and heart rot, which can severely damage crops. Weed pressure is also significant because pineapples grow relatively slowly, leaving lots of exposed ground where weeds can take over.
Conventional farms often use a cocktail of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides to help keep these challenges under control.
Organic growers don't have that shortcut.
Instead, they often rely on:
- Healthier, biologically active soils
- Manual weed management
- Mulch systems
- Crop timing and rotation strategies
- Beneficial insects
- Biological disease control methods
And this is where things get really tricky.
Growing organic pineapples is incredibly labour-intensive. Weeds often need to be controlled by hand or through physical methods rather than simply spraying and moving on. Pest and disease management requires much closer monitoring, and maintaining healthy, biologically active soils takes ongoing work and planning.
Organic farming can also mean higher labour costs, lower yields and more risk if weather conditions don't cooperate.
As a result, fewer and fewer farmers are willing to take on organic pineapple production. Not because they don't care, but because the amount of work involved can be too much.
It's a big reason organic pineapples are still relatively hard to find in Australia.
When you do come across them, there's usually a lot more time, care and hard work sitting behind that pineapple than most people realise.
Which Chemicals Are Used On Conventional Pineapples?
The chemicals used vary from farm to farm, but industry documents and registered use information show pineapple growers may use products including:
Herbicides
Used to manage aggressive weed growth around crops:
-
Glyphosate
Potential health concerns associated with exposure include ongoing debate around cancer risk, potential impacts on gut bacteria, endocrine disruption and oxidative stress. -
Bromacil
Potential health concerns associated with higher or repeated exposure include irritation of the skin and eyes, impacts on the nervous system and concerns around possible carcinogenic effects based on animal studies. -
Diuron
Potential concerns associated with exposure include possible liver effects and concerns around carcinogenic potential from long-term exposure in some animal studies. Diuron has also raised environmental concerns because of its persistence in soil and waterways.
Fungicides
Used to manage diseases like root rot and base rot:
-
Metalaxyl
Potential health concerns associated with repeated exposure may include irritation of the skin and eyes, and effects on liver function observed in some toxicology studies. -
Propiconazole
Potential concerns associated with exposure include possible endocrine disruption and liver effects observed in some animal studies. -
Phosphorous acid products
Generally considered lower risk compared with many other agricultural chemicals, although concentrated exposure may cause irritation to skin, eyes and airways.
Insecticides
Used to control mealybugs, ants and scale insects:
-
Chlorpyrifos
This insecticide has drawn significant concern because of evidence linking exposure to impacts on brain and nervous system development, particularly in children. Several countries have restricted or banned its use. -
Diazinon
Potential concerns associated with exposure include effects on the nervous system because it belongs to a class of chemicals known as organophosphates. IARC has classified diazinon as "probably carcinogenic to humans".
Plant Growth Regulators
Used to encourage more uniform flowering and ripening:
-
Ethephon
Potential concerns associated with exposure include irritation to skin and eyes and possible impacts on the nervous system at higher exposure levels.
Not every grower uses all of these chemicals listed, and Australia has regulations around maximum residue levels. But many consumers are increasingly asking a different question:
"What happens with long-term, low-level exposure from ingesting these chemicals over time?"
"But You Don't Eat The Skin..."
This is usually where the question comes up.
Pineapples have a thick outer skin, so many people assume residues aren't relevant.
And yes, peeling can reduce direct exposure to residues on the surface.
But chemicals aren't only sprayed directly onto the fruit itself.
Many are applied to:
- Soil (if the chemical is in the soil, it’s in the fruit)
- Surrounding weeds
- Developing plants during growth
- Disease management programs throughout the season
Many people choosing organic are thinking beyond just surface residues and are also considering wider factors like:
- Environmental impacts
- Soil health
- Biodiversity
- Water systems
- Supporting farming systems with lower synthetic chemical inputs
The Bigger Picture
Growing good food is hard work, and many farmers are doing their best to balance crop health, costs and the realities of farming in Queensland conditions.
Avoiding chemical interventions in farming often means taking on more risk, more labour and more hands-on work without the shortcuts many conventional systems rely on. It’s a big commitment, which is why fewer growers are willing to take it on.
So when we find organic pineapples grown here in Australia, we get pretty excited.
Because behind that pineapple isn’t just a sweet tropical fruit, there’s a farmer choosing to do things differently, a whole lot of extra work, and a growing system designed to work more closely with nature.
Try our juicy, sweet organic pineapples here.
References
Hort Innovation. Pineapple Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP), 2024. https://www.horticulture.com.au/globalassets/hort-innovation/current-sarps/pineapple-sarp-2024-final.pdf
University of Queensland. Getting to the Root of Pineapple Crop Losses, 2022. https://qaafi.uq.edu.au/article/2022/03/getting-root-pineapple-crop-losses
Barmac. Pineapple Production Guide, Australian Crop Inputs and Management. https://barmac.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/12/Pineapple-PGuide-updated-Feb-2016.pdf
Queensland Department of Primary Industries. Pineapple production resources and disease management information. https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/crops/fruit-veg/pineapple
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Evaluation of Glyphosate and Organophosphate Pesticides, 2015. https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MonographVolume112-1.pdf
Frontiers in Toxicology. Overview of Human Health Effects Related to Glyphosate Exposure, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39359637/
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Bromacil Toxicology Information. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0063.html
