Students to get Maui-grown pineapples

Students to get Maui-grown pineapples

The Hawaii State Department of Education is incorporating Maui-grown pineapples in student meals statewide as part of the ‘Aina Pono Hawaii State Harvest of the Month program in May.

“Instead of serving pineapples as fresh fruit on the side, our schools will be using locally grown Maui Gold pineapples in scratch-cooked student lunches statewide,” said Albert Scales, program administrator, School Food Services Branch. “We experimented with different recipes and found the pineapples worked well as a main dish in our Sweet and Sour Pineapple Pork.”

Maui Gold pineapples are grown on the slopes of Haleakala, and always hand picked. The locally owned and operated company was created by former Maui Pineapple Co. employees committed to saving the 100-year tradition of pineapple on Maui. Local farmers have been cultivating the Maui Gold variety for more than 25 years.

HIDOE has been increasing local agriculture through its ‘Aina Pono Hawaii State Harvest of the Month program since December 2017. Since then, scratch-cooked student meals have included locally grown beef, bananas, papayas and ‘ulu.