The Product: Fyffes Gold Super Sweet pineapples are grown in the Central and South American countries of Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Panama. Some 6.5 million cases of Fyffes pineapples were delivered throughout Europe last year.

The Plantations: What is planted is not a "seed" in the true sense, but a cutting from the plant or the top of a fruit. To produce quality pineapples, the correct balance of sugar and vitamin C must be maintained. Sufficient water, sunshine and consistent temperatures make tropical regions ideal for pineapple growing.

The Harvest: Pineapples require between eight and nine months of growth and a further six months for ripening. After harvesting, they are washed and sorted by size and colour before being loaded on to ships destined for Foynes Port in Co Limerick. Fyffes deliver directly to Ireland, ensuring the freshness of the pineapples. Fyffes Gold pineapples are compliant with the strict hygiene standards determined by EurepGap, the global partnership for safe and sustainable agriculture.

The Delivery: On Mondays or Tuesdays of every week, a shipment of bananas and pineapples arrives at Foynes Port. In the case of SuperValu, Fyffes delivers to Musgrave's chill distribution centres in Dublin and Cork. These are "pick-by-line" distribution centres where fresh and chilled foods come in from a supplier at one side, are allocated per store order, and dispatched at the other side in refrigerated transport within 12 hours.

The Shop: Pineapples are available within 24 hours of arrival to any of the 176 independent SuperValu stores countrywide, including Surlis SuperValu in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo.

Between Centra and SuperValu, 20,000 cases of pineapples are sold annually at €2.59 each.

Compiled by  Áine Kerr