The 2025 World Food Innovation Awards, organized by FoodBev Media, have bestowed the Best Food Innovation Award to the Rubyglow pineapple, an exclusive variety grown in the Buenos Aires de Puntarenas region, Costa Rica.
This variety, the result of more than 15 years of research and two years of cultivation, stands out for its distinctive appearance and its positioning as a luxury fruit. The result of a cross between a traditional pineapple and an inedible red-skinned variety, Rubyglow has a deep red skin, bright yellow flesh, and a mild, low-tangy taste.
The fruit is produced using traditional cross-breeding techniques that require high precision and is mainly grown by Costa Rican staff, according to Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, president and CEO of Fresh Del Monte.
Since its initial launch in China, where the first crop was quickly sold out, it's been introduced to markets in North America and Europe, reaching a demand that currently exceeds production capacity. The limited availability of seeds and the long growing cycle make it an exclusive fruit, with waiting lists in several destinations.
Rubyglow joins Fresh Del Monte's portfolio of premium pineapples, which already includes the Pinkglow, Honeyglow, and Del Monte Zero varieties. The latter was developed under sustainability criteria. According to the company, all these innovations respond to new consumer demands in terms of taste, quality, and differentiation at the point of sale.
The World Food Innovation Awards annually highlight the most relevant innovation, sustainability, and commercial appeal advances in the food sector. They are considered one of the most influential recognitions in the global food and beverage industry.
Source: delfino.cr
