Pineapple Production in Lajas

Pineapple Production in Lajas

Lajas is the municipality that has always been known for the pineapple production in the southwestern area of Puerto Rico.  They cultivate exclusively one type of pineapple which is called the "cabezona pineapple". This type of pineapple is cultivated just in Lajas because this town has an extremely dry terrain and since the pineapple doesn’t require much water, this terrain is perfect for its production.  The name of the cabezona pineapple was given owing to the fact that this pineapple grows in bigger sizes than the other varieties; it can weight around 15-20 pounds. (“La Piña Cabezona”, 1) Now, through the years, the terrain has been losing its organic materials and this has caused the production of cabezona pineapple to decrease.  This decrease is caused, by low market prices, absence of market plans, poor horticultural practices, and the reduction of fruit size and weight. (“Who's growing Red Spanish… “, 1)

Since then, the pineapple producers started cultivating the “smooth cayenne” which is another pineapple variety that is known to be produced largely in Puerto Rico but not in Lajas until this century. The smooth cayenne doesn’t need as much organic materials as the cabezona pineapple does so it became of greatest importance in Lajas instead of the cabezona. This pineapple variety differs a lot from the cabezona. The smooth cayenne is commercially more attractive than the cabezona. This pineapple it's easier to handle because it has a near freedom from spines and it is sweeter while the cabezona pineapple has a lot of spines, it’s not as sweet and is more of a local business nowadays.

The production of cabezona pineapple has decreased but it doesn't mean it has stopped. There are just a few farmers that still cultivate it and sell it locally even though it is rare these days. It is mostly found in summer because that is when the pineapple production it’s at its best point. The rest of the year you will always find the smooth cayenne selling locally and in the rest of Puerto Rico.

Works Cited

PR-Giants.  “Who's growing Red Spanish, Cabezona, or PR-167?” Bananas.org forums. 

9 October 2016. www.bananas.org/f8/whos-growing-red-spanish-cabezona-page-20664.html

“La Piña Cabezona: Cultivo de la pina”. Lajas, Puerto Rico. 9 October 2016.

      www.lajaspr.com/prLaPina.htm