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Pineberry
Species	Fragaria ananassa
Cultivar	Pineberry

Pineberry is a strawberry cultivar. As such, despite its pineapple-like flavor and white coloring, it is merely the product of hybridization between different strawberry cultivars that growers selected for appearance and taste qualities. It is not a strawberry-pineapple hybrid. They were publicized in Germany in April 2009 as Ananaserdbeere, i.e. "pineapple-strawberry". It is a hybrid of Fragaria chiloensis, originating in South America, and Fragaria virginiana, originating in North America, the same parentage as the garden strawberry Fragaria × ananassa. A pineberry is smaller than a common strawberry, measuring between 15 to 23 mm (0.6 to 0.9 in). When ripe, it is almost completely white, but with red "seeds" (achenes). "The fruit flesh can range from soft white to orange and is very fragrant with a slight pineapple flavor," said Greg Goddard, the co-creator. The plant is disease resistant, but is not very profitable, due to small-scale farming, small berry size and low yield crop.

The pineberry has been marketed to European restaurants, bakeries and wholesale markets. The berry has been dubbed "pineberry" for the UK market where it became available in 2011. White strawberries are not rare; in fact, South American natural strawberries were white and garden supply stores in the UK have other white varieties of strawberry, such as White Soul and the White Delight. Unlike the pineberry, these however are Fragaria vesca cultivars; the strawberries these plants produce are generally smaller and more fragrant.

It is claimed by VitalBerry that pineberries are "the oldest strawberry variety". Pineberries were nearly extinct until 2003, when Dutch farmers saved the plant. The farmers found the plant in France and decided to grow it commercially. As a result of deterioration over time, the plants they found yielded only one or two berries per plant. The farmers took cuttings and grew hundreds of plants and selected the healthy ones. This was repeated for six years until they had healthy plants. The pineberry was sold commercially in the U.S. for the first time in 2012 between mid-May and June, having been sold in several locations in New York. Critical response has been mixed.

Introduction

Pineberries have been a fruit that has been around for a short time, but has been making a lot of news surrounding the exotic fruit. Pineberries have a lot of history from how the fruit was made. Pineberries are a hybrid fruit, which means that it is a mix of two different kinds of fruits. The taste of a pineberry is a combination of a strawberry and a pineapple. A lot of sources relate the pineberry to the Chilean strawberry. They are closely related in origin, taste, and appearance. “The pineberry first appeared in the 1750s in Europe, as a cross between an American wild strawberry and a Chilean strawberry. But it was a poor producer and thus on the verge of extinction. Then, in 2003, Dutch strawberry breeder Hans de Jongh stepped in and began to transform it into a stronger, more productive plant.” Then some years later it was being bought and sold in British grocery stores. It is very exciting to announce that now they are becoming available in grocery stores in the United States.

History and Origin

Pineberries come from two different kinds of fruit. The word itself comes from a mix of two different kinds of fruits. “Pineberry is a fusion of the words “pineapple” and “strawberry” and refers to a relatively new pale pink or pale orange to white strawberry cultivar that is adorned with red achenes.” The pineberry is a hybrid of different kinds of strawberries. “The pineberry is a hybrid of the wild South American strawberry Fragaria chiloensis, which grows wild in some parts of Chile, and the North American strawberry Fragaria virginiana.” A hybrid involves cross breading the strawberries and a scientist in a lab does not make them. Strawberries including the pineberries come in a lot of different colors. “In fact, the specific strawberry variety whose genetics contribute to the striking appearance of the pineberry was “rescued” by a group of Dutch farmers.” The Dutch had a huge impact on the growing process and how the strawberries would turn out after they were being grown. Chile was also a location where the pineberries were located that is why the Chilean strawberry is known in relation to pineberries, and it could even be so closely related to be the same kind of fruit. The taste and texture are talked a lot when describing pineberries because “the flavor that most say is reminiscent of pineapple while retaining the texture and feel of a strawberry.” Pineberries are very much real and are grown and found all over the world. There is currently a very high demand for pineberries. “Some Chileans claim that their native strawberry plant is the same as the pineberry.” A lot of food critics are all over the pineberry because it is so fresh and new. “Although the origin of the species in Chile has not been completely determined, it may have been introduced from North America by birds.”

How to Grow Pineberries

There are a lot to know about growing pineberries. There are a lot of supplies that you should make sure that you have before preparing to grow pineberries. You will need “pineberry plant, strawberry plant, potting mix, organic fertilizer, small container, and a window box.” Pineberry plants grow differently then a lot of other strawberry plants, so you have to make sure that you are growing them correctly or else they will not grow at all. Pineberry plants do not self-pollinate. That makes it really important that you grow pineberries in the early summer months so insects and bees can pollinate your pineberry seeds because they cannot do it on there own. “To maintain the pale white appearance of the fleshy accessory tissue of the pineberries, it is a good idea to grow them in a glass house or other growing system.” Sometimes the taste is known to be different, but most people will not be able to tell the difference.

Taste and Texture

Pineberries give off an unusual taste and texture. They are like a strawberry and a pineapple. They are known to be great with desserts. “ABC's Lauren Stiffelman reports from London the pineberry is white, covered with red seeds and has the same genetic make-up as a strawberry, but has the taste and smell of a pineapple.” There are a lot of grocery stores in Britain that are selling pineberries. One that is very popular is called Waitrose. The pineberries are known as “designer fruit” and are obtaining a lot of popularity especially in the United States. “In the United States it has become a $100 million business.” “Other aromatic compositions include notes of cloves, caramel and green leaves. Their texture remains true to the nature of strawberries, with a soft, juicy flesh with a melting quality.” Weekend's food editor, Bob Granleese, never one to hold back, was not a fan: "It smells like a strawberry." Bite. "It tastes like ... water." Pause. "With sweetener in it." Pause. "It's disgusting.” Some people are not fond of the hybrid taste that combines the strawberry and the pineapple hybrid pineberry.

Availability

Pineberries can be available from early spring and into the summer months. Pineberries are used in the same way that other strawberries would be used and for the most part grown. “More than 3,000 plants have been sent to garden centers.” Pineberries are becoming very popular. The fruit was becoming something that no one knew about at all to something that everyone was talking about. It is appearing in grocery stores all over the United States and in Europe.

Scientific Research

“The scientific name of this type of strawberry is Fragaria vesca ssp vesca forma semperflorens.” The problem found with hybrid strawberries are that they do not product true to the variety of the seed. Since pineberries are a hybrid they are related to Alpine Strawberries and the Chilean strawberry very closely. That is what happens with a lot of fruits that are hybrids. “The fruit, though somehow the same with strawberry, is not really an albino cousin of it.” “Strawberry is considered to be a non-climacteric fruit.” It is known to be related with the Chilean strawberry and have the same hybrid and breeding process. They share the same breeding and therefore are produced the same way.

Complications

A lot of customers rave about pineberries, but some customers had a terrible reaction to the exotic fruit. Certain people loved the fruit and the taste tests showed that they did and they were running out of pineberries in the stores, but not all the customers were happy. “Several hospitals reported an alarming number of patients with digestive problems. Each claims to have purchased and consumed the pineberries for their evening dessert. Symptoms are varied but include headaches, vomiting, painful diarrhea and loss of spending cash.” There were a lot of tests that the hospitals were running to try and find out if or why the pineberries were affecting some people in a negative way with terribly sick symptoms. "One woman ate only one berry and had elevated levels of Alkaline Phosphatase in the liver, a sign of toxicity. Since none of the men nor the women who ate lots of berries had this problem, we can say that the effects are sex-dependent and inverse dose-dependent," said Seralini. "This is what we are finding lately with genetically modified foods.” The breeding process with pineberries especially in South America where they originate there are different requirements for how the cross breeding is developed and have to go through a lot of safety tests to make sure that they are ok for people to eat.

References

Category:Fragaria Category:Berries Category:Hybrid fruit