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This refreshing fruit, packed with vitamins, has become a staple on our plates! If it's so popular, it's because pineapple has a reputation for burning fat. But is this fruit really a slimming food, as some magazines claim? Although this exotic fruit only grows on the other side of the world, pineapple has become a mass consumer product. In 2017, global production reached 30 million tons. In just a few years, Costa Rica has become the world's leading exporter of pineapples. Over there, intensive cultivation has become a boon for multinationals. Dole, Del Monte and Chiquita have gigantic farms that can reach 1,000 hectares. To produce more, farmers don't hesitate to use pesticides excessively. This intensive monoculture has serious consequences for the environment and local populations. But recently, older varieties of pineapple have made a comeback, such as organic sugarloaf. This species is grown on small plantations in West Africa. How do its small farmers manage to establish themselves in this market largely dominated by agri-food giants? Long considered a rare exotic fruit, how did pineapple become a staple on our plates? Does it really have beneficial effects on our health as some retailers claim? We investigated to find out if pineapple still has things to hide from us. By Julia Le Correc Follow us on Facebook: / foodstoryfr