Canned and juiced pineapple products in the United States face an imminent price hike by a leading processor due to supply issues.

According to Bloomberg on May 18, 2025, the multinational Dole PLC will mark up some of its canned and juice range, starting June 9. 

The dossier that reveals this looming hike has not clarified by how much the increase will be over standard pricing. 

Apparently, a “squeeze on yields” by weather factors rather than the reigning threat of tariffs underlines Dole’s acing the price.

One company rep said that pineapples need 18 months to mature, during which big production disruptions can affect supplies for years thereafter. 

When are they In Season?

Although pineapples are accessible in the U.S. year-round due to imports, the local season is limited to spring and summer. 

Domestic sources harvest the fruit March through July, in which time prices average $2 per fruit in retail stores.

According to USA Today, the fruits grow in sub-tropical zones such as zones 11 and 12, from Florida to Hawaii. 

Hawaii provides 75% of homegrown pineapples in the United States and the rest come from Puerto Rico, Florida and California.  

Why do they Get Expensive?

During the off season, sometimes costly imports from mainly Costa Rica, which grows specialty pineapples, supplant local sources. 

Indeed, the United States has spent a cumulative $6.05 billion on pineapple imports in the ten-year period ending 2023. 

Huge market share by multinationals is another factor that affects pineapple prices in the U.S. Juicing companies with established clientele can decide to hike prices if supplies in their import destinations decrease. 

Another factor is specialty fruit firms that try to inflate the value of the once-luxury fruit many times over. For example, a Rubyglow by Del Monte sold at Melissa’s Produce in California in 2024 at $395.99, according to CNN. 

Although canned pineapple will not cost hundreds of dollars any time soon, any little hike could strain grocery budgets. And as the statistics below indicate, wholesale pricing is one of the many factors informing the U.S.’ pineapple sector.

U.S. Pineapple Statistics

The United States produces a slither of the world’s pineapples at just 0.13% margin in Hawaii, but it is the biggest importer. Production at home ranges from an estimated value of 168,208 tonnes (2023) to 168,322 tonnes (2022), per FAOSTAT. It comes from large-scale farms in Hawaii and small-scale farms in Puerto Rico, California and Florida, covering 5,614 hectares (2022). 

What is the wholesale pricing of imported pineapples? 

Wholesale prices depend on both local production status and import prices, and are therefore susceptible to fluctuations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that pineapple imports from Costa Rica cost $17- $19 per single-layer carton, around March 20, 2025. These sell in diverse fruit sizes including 5s (small), 6s (medium) and 7s (large).

Is the U.S. a big pineapple importer by dollar value? 

U.S.’ imports claim a chunk of 32.1% of all global pineapple trade, as of 2023. The United States led the 2023 world’s orders at $932.4 million, eight times that of runner-up China at $186.8 million. 2023’s value was a spike from that of 2021, which had been also substantial at $810.049 million. 

Which are the key import sources of pineapples into the United States by volume?  

According to the World Bank, the United States imports 1.193 million tonnes of pineapples annually, as of 2021. By country, Costa Rica provides 86% of inbound pineapples, as of 2023 at 1.113 million tonnes. In second place is Honduras at 64,971 tonnes (2023) and Mexico at 43, 219 tonnes (2023).