What is a pineberry

Pineberries come from breeding strawberry stocks from Chile and Virginia.[2] The first
commercial cultivation occurred in 2010 in the Netherlands and Belgium.[2][3]

A pineberry is smaller than a common strawberry, measuring between 15 to 23 mm (0.6 to

0.9 in). When ripe, it is almost completely white, but with red "seeds" (achenes). The plant is
disease resistant, but is highly priced, although not very profitable due to small-scale farming,
small berry size and low yield.[2][3] Pineberries are available in the spring and summer.

Pineberry & Pineberries

Last updated: by Mr. Strawberry

IF YOU JUST WANT TO PURCHASE YOUR

OWN PLANTS, CLICK HERE NOW. If you’d
like to learn more of the pineberry’s history
and other details, just keep reading…
What is a Pineberry?
The word “pineberry” is a fusion of the words
“pineapple” and “strawberry” and refers to a relatively new pale pink or
pale orange to white strawberry cultivar that is adorned with red achenes
(see the Strawberry Seedspage for more information). Like the modern
Garden Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), the pineberry is a hybrid of the
wild South American strawberry Fragaria chiloensis, which grows wild in
some parts of Chile, and the North American strawberry Fragaria
virginiana. The pineberry fruit is the result of cross-breeding, not genetic
engineering as has been claimed by some. There are actually multiple
different types of white strawberries(and new purple strawberries have been
developed as well).
In fact, the specific strawberry variety whose genetics contribute to the
striking appearance of the pineberry was “rescued” by a group of Dutch
farmers. They discovered the source material in France. They did not find
and rescue the pineberry from extinction in the wilds of Chile, as some have
claimed. After six years of plant selection and cultivation, the plant vigor
and quality of the pineberry plants was improved, and the decision to begin
growing them for commercial production was made.
The fruit produced by pineberry plants is very aromatic and has flavor that
most say is reminiscent of pineapple while retaining the texture and feel of
a strawberry. The pineberry, or pineapple strawberry, is more of a novelty
at present. They are produced on a very small scale in Europe and Belize
and are not very profitable due to the small size of the pineberries (large
pineberries are less than an inch [2.54 cm] big) and the low yield of
pineberry plants (see the videos below to better gauge the size of the
berries).

Are Pineberries Real?

Yes, pineberries are real. The primary

commercial cultivar is owned by
strawberry breeder Hans de Jongh and
the pineberries are sold by VitalBerry BV
in the city of Made, Netherlands. Their
supplier is Holland’s Beekers Berries who
grows them in very large, commercial
glasshouses. While the fruits are generally referred to as “pineberries,” the
German word meaning pineapple strawberry, “ananaserdbeere,” is
occasionally used to reference them as well.Questions over the existence of
pineberries arose after two events cast doubts on their reality. The UK
grocery store chain Waitrose was the only supplier of pineberries to the UK
market. In the year Waitrose was to initially offer pineberries on a limited
basis, they announced the new fruit offering just prior to April 1. Since the
store chain had previously run “April Fools” ads for an obviously made up
“pinana” (a pineapple banana), many assumed that the pineberry was a
similar joke. Additionally, a search engine optimization company adopted
Pineberry as its name just prior to the Waitrose announcement. The
pineberry products showed on the SEO company’s sites were clearly not
real products. These two concurrent happenings led to much skepticism
and doubts about the existence of such pineapple strawberries.
Pineberry Information

Commercial pineberries are only available for a

period of about five weeks. If demand
increases, production will likely rise to meet the demand. However, they
have been sold in the UK in forty-five Waitrose stores in the past. They
generally sold for £2.99 to £3.99 (approximately $4.50 to $6.00) for a 125
gram bag (4.4 oz).In 2012, pineberries were imported into the United States
for commercial sale for the first time. They were available in New York from
early May until mid-June. They were available in New York at Dean &
DeLuca, Eataly, and Agata & Valentina. They were available for $5.99 per
half-pint until after the middle of May, at which time the price increased to
$7.99 for the same quantity.
While likely not identical to the pineberry, some Chileans claim that their
native strawberry plant is the same as the pineberry. In Chile, this fragrant
fruit is referred to as Frutilla Chilena.
While the official promotional materials laud the pineberry as a heavenly
taste experience, some food critics aren’t as high on the newly
commercialized designer fruit. It’s flavor has been referred to as watery,
nippy, and tasting like an unripe strawberry. However, like most things,
taste preferences are highly subjective, and there are equally numerous
positive taste experiences on record. So, judge for yourself. The
pineberries themselves are not widely available commercially in the U.S.A.
yet, but they will likely be sold again in the United Kingdom next year. You
can, however, buy your own pineberry plants by using the links below.
Varieties of Pineberries
Pineberries have been researched and developed an infinitesimally small amount compared to the
common Garden Strawberry. Consequently, while there
are hundreds of unique and productive varieties of your
typical strawberry, the pineberry varieties available
today are very few in number. The variety cultivated by
VitalBerry BV cannot, at present, be purchased as
strawberry plants, plugs, or crowns for home growing
outside of the Netherlands. However, Beekers Berries’ Berries @ Home is scheduled to
begin offering pineberry plants in the United States and Canada in early
2014. More information will be published nearer the time, along with
detailed introduction dates and sales channels. The pineberry varieties that
are available are the ‘White Pine’, ‘White Carolina’, ‘White D’, and ‘Natural
Albino’ cultivars.
The White Pine pineberries are vigorous and will send forth numerous
runners. The characteristic red-seeded white strawberries are mild and
have the pineapple strawberry taste for which pineberries are becoming
well-known. To maintain the pale white appearance of the fleshy accessory
tissue of the pineberries, it is a good idea to grow them in a glass house or
other growing system. The taste won’t be noticeably different, but full sun
will cause a bluish-pink hue to tinge the fruits.
A less stereotypical pineberry variety is White Carolina. The pineberries
exposed to direct sun will usually have a more evident pink flush than the
others. Additionally, this variety is very susceptible to leaf scorch and will
likely require fungicides to control it. Organic fungicides may or may not be
sufficient to keep it in check. This variety will likely be replaced if and when
pineberry research develops more hardy cultivars.
White D pineberries were developed in Sweden and have a bright future.
There is the possibility that the genetic traits that dictate strawberry
production have endowed this variety with everbearing properties. Should
that prove true as testing continues over the next few years, this variety
would likely become the most preferred one, at least until superior cultivars
are developed. Another positive factor in favor of this pineberry is its fruit
size. While still considered small, its berries are generally larger than the
pineberries of the other available varieties. The aroma of this variety of
pineberry is exceptional and the pineapple flavor is mild.

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The newest pineberry variety that has reached commercial availability is Natural Albino, a variety
patented by and sold by Nourse Farms. The berries still carry the distinctive aroma and pineapple-y
taste that is sought after, however, the fruit is quite small: only about the size of a dime or a nickle.
Additionally, this variety requires cross-pollination with a compatible strawberry pollinator in order to
set any fruit. Nourse Farms sells the Sonata variety along with the Natural Albino plants in a 1:4 ratio
.Growing Pineberries
How do you grow pineberries? Pineberry plants are grown just like regular
strawberries are grown, with one distinct difference. In order to produce
the largest possible crop of the distinct white fruits, it is necessary to have
a pollinator strawberry in close proximity. For every four plants, it is best to
have one regular strawberry plant for pollination purposes. The early
results indicate that the Sonata variety is the best pollinator for pineberries
in general, and specifically the Natural Albino variety. For more applicable
help, go here: growing pineberries, strawberries.
Where Can You Buy Pineberry Plants?
At present, you can’t purchase the commercial pineberry plants to grow in
your garden directly from VitalBerry. However, you can buy the Natural
Albino variety from their authorized plant supplier, Beekers Berries, through
their Berries @ Home storefront. For other suppliers in the United States
and Europe, visit the links below…