Grown at Dole’s oldest Latin American pineapple farm, the new non-GMO, lighter-colored, sweet-sensation is 15 years in the making

In the early 2000s, the fresh produce research and development team at Dole Food Company had the idea to bring something new to the pineapple category. They envisioned a new variety that offered a different flavor than their traditional pineapples—more indulgent and balanced, possibly with hints of coconut or other exotic ingredients—but was still true to the company’s century-plus legacy of growing all-natural fruit without GMOs.

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After 15 years of work at its oldest pineapple farm in Latin America, Dole Food Company is introducing the DOLE® Colada Royale™ Pineapple, an all-new variety of Ananas comosus that has been conventionally bred to be gold to green on the outside, cream-colored on the inside and offer distinct notes of coconut and piña colada for those seeking the ultimate tropical eating experience.

Assuming all went well, the hope was to introduce this game-changer to pineapple lovers in time for the 125^th anniversary in 2026 of Dole’s global pineapple business.

After 15 years of work in La Ceiba, Honduras, at its oldest pineapple farm in Latin America, Dole is introducing the DOLE^® Colada Royale^™ Pineapple, an all-new variety of Ananas comosus that has been conventionally bred to be gold to green on the outside, cream-colored on the inside and offer distinct notes of coconut and piña colada for those seeking the ultimate tropical eating experience.

The DOLE^® Colada Royale^™ Pineapple officially debuts during this week’s IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show, Oct. 16-18, 2025, and arrives at supermarkets throughout North America in October.

According to Bil Goldfield, Dole’s director of communications, the intent was to leverage Dole’s century of pineapple-growing experience in Hawaii and Latin America to disrupt the pineapple status quo by combining natural growing techniques with unexpected flavors to create an exceptional premium pineapple with a price that is accessible to fresh fruit fans at all income levels.

“Our new Colada Royale^™ Pineapple is not just a novelty or publicity gimmick; it’s Dole’s long-term strategy for getting more people to embrace the tropical majesty of pineapples with a luxurious new taste experience that leaves you wanting more,” said Goldfield. “It becomes our premium fresh pineapple experience and the centerpiece of Dole’s quasquicentennial celebration of growing the world’s #1 organic and conventional pineapple, kicking off next year.”

The new pineapple also represents a passion project for Roberto Young, a Honduran native who returned home in 1997 to be part of Dole’s work in La Ceiba after earning his Ph.D. in plant breeding, crop and soil sciences from Michigan State University. His first assignment was to oversee Dole’s natural pineapple-breeding program – a role which has lasted 28 years and most recently resulted in the Colada Royale^™, which he considers his crowning achievement.

“I’m proud of my work at Dole and being able to help bring a pineapple like the Colada Royale^™ to the world,” said Young. “As a pineapple breeder, I do much of my work quietly since it can take 10, 12 or even 15 years to create a new hybrid through natural processes – and only a very small percentage of the thousands we try ever make it to market. So, the Colada Royale^™ is special. It will be my legacy.”

From a nutrient perspective, the Colada Royale^™ delivers all the expected health benefits of Dole’s fresh pineapple lineup—improved digestion, reduced inflammation and protection against chronic diseases—thanks to its fiber and antioxidants like vitamin C and bromelain. However, it stands out in one remarkable way: a single 1-cup serving of Colada Royale™ contains two and a half times more vitamin B6. This essential nutrient supports brain, nervous system, and immune health, while also aiding in the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Vitamin B6 also plays a key role in producing hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells.

Dole is introducing five new original dishes created specifically for the Colada Royale^™ by Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, the company’s nutrition, wellness and communications manager. These new recipes are part of a larger booklet of Dole Pineapple recipes available as a free digital download on the Colada Royale^™ webpage (https://www.dole.com/colada-royale).

The new Colada Royale^™ also delivers on a purpose that directly advances Dole’s worker welfare and human rights policies for an equitable future. The company will reinvest a percentage of proceeds from every box of DOLE^® Colada Royale^™ Pineapple sold to the creation of a new community center for farm workers and their families in La Ceiba, Honduras, near Dole’s pineapple farm.

The center will be managed directly by the workers and provide healthcare, language classes and vocational training for workers, families and those in the local community.

From funding and building the Vicente d’Antoni Hospital for banana workers in La Ceiba in 1924 to more recently partnering with MedShare to ship medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in Honduras, Dole has remained committed to helping workers, their families and communities throughout the country.

Dole is supporting the launch of its new taste phenomenon with an integrated marketing campaign encompassing print and digital advertising; social media; a dedicated webpage; consumer and trade media PR; in-store sampling and merchandising, and an expanded presence at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show.

The DOLE^® Colada Royale^™ Pineapple becomes the fifth member in the top-quality Dole pineapple family, joining the DOLE^® Tropical Gold^®, DOLE^® Royal Hawaiian^® Tropical Gold, DOLE Golden Selection^® and DOLE^® Organic Fair Trade Certified pineapples.

For more information, visit the Colada Royale webpage.

About Dole plc

Dole plc, is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Operating in more than 70 countries, Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

In the U.S., Dole was ranked as the most-trusted brand in Fresh Fruit and Salad Kits in the 2025 BrandSpark Most-Trusted Brand Awards Presented by Newsweek as determined by more than 29,000 American shoppers who shared their insights on which brands they trust most and why.

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The intent was to leverage Dole’s century of pineapple experience to disrupt the pineapple status quo by combining natural growing techniques with unexpected flavors to create an exceptional experience accessible to all fresh fruit fans.