Falling Victim to a Hybrid Pineapple Scam.

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

Pineapple is one of the most popular fruits in Bangladesh. Whether it’s during the hot summer months or in the holy month of Ramadan, pineapple almost always finds its place on the dining table. Sweet, juicy, and packed with vitamins, this fruit is not only delicious in taste and fragrance but also highly beneficial for health. Pineapple contains vitamin C, antioxidants, and digestion-friendly enzymes that help boost the immune system and improve digestion.

For decades, the hilly regions of Bangladesh — Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Sylhet — have been famous for their pineapples. These regions produce small-sized but incredibly sweet and flavorful varieties. Once upon a time, these local pineapples dominated the markets. But over time, the scene has changed. Now, large-sized hybrid pineapples have taken over the market. These fruits look attractive, are huge in size, and are available almost all year round. Some weigh three to five kilograms or even more, often sold at a comparatively cheap price — usually between 80 and 120 taka each.

However, experiences with these large hybrid pineapples are not always pleasant. Often, what looks perfect from the outside hides a disappointing reality inside. Recently, I experienced this firsthand. On my way home from the office, I bought a big hybrid pineapple for 80 taka — huge in size, weighing at least three to four kilograms. Excited, I brought it home, washed it, and sliced it open — only to be shocked. A large portion inside had turned brownish-black and rotten. It was completely inedible.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just my story. Many people are being cheated like this every day. The problem is that the external beauty of the fruit does not reveal its inner condition. Moreover, large hybrid pineapples are often watery, less sweet, and sometimes artificially ripened with chemicals — which can cause the inside to spoil prematurely.

Why does this happen?

Excessive fertilizers and chemicals — To increase yield and size quickly, farmers often use too many fertilizers or growth hormones. While this makes the fruit look bigger, it reduces its quality.

Harvesting before maturity — To meet market demand, pineapples are often picked before fully ripening and later forced to ripen using chemicals. This can cause internal rot.

Poor storage conditions — Large pineapples sometimes sit for long periods in storage or trucks, and high temperatures can trigger internal decay.

Unstable hybrid traits — Many hybrid varieties grow big but fail to deliver the natural taste, texture, and quality of local ones.

Tips to avoid being cheated

Smell before buying — a ripe pineapple should have a sweet aroma.

Check the bottom — gently press the base; if it feels too soft, it might be rotten inside.

Avoid overly large pineapples — medium-sized ones are usually better in quality.

Prefer local or hill-grown pineapples — they are naturally sweeter and tested over time.

Buy from trusted sellers rather than roadside piles or unknown trucks.

When we are cheated while buying fruit, it’s not just our money we lose — it’s also the joy of savoring a fruit we love. So don’t be fooled by outward appearances. Choose pineapples carefully, value naturally grown medium-sized local varieties over unnaturally large hybrid ones. This way, you’ll protect both your health and your wallet — and reduce the risk of disappointment.