Azores Pineapple Plantation: the Only Pineapple Grown in Greenhouses in Europe

Nowhere else in Europe is pineapple grown in glass greenhouses. São Miguel is the exception — and the fruit grown there has become one of the most recognisable symbols of the Azores.

An alternative after the orange crisis

It was Augusto Rebelo Arruda, a lawyer, politician from São Miguel, and co-founder of airline SATA, who decided to invest in pineapple growing in 1919, on a former family orange estate in Fajã de Baixo, a parish now considered the pineapple capital of the Azores. The crop expanded to more than 4,300 greenhouses on the island, supporting exports to countries like England, Germany, and Russia as early as the start of the 20th century.

Eighteen months from bulb to ripe fruit

The growing method is unique in the world: the plant starts in the “estufim,” where bulbs from already-fruited plants — called “tocas” — are planted at a temperature of about 38°C. After a month, they’re transplanted to larger greenhouses, where they grow for about 18 months until ready for harvest, with each plant producing just one fruit.

The smoke operation

At around 4 to 6 months old, the plants undergo a fertilisation process locally known as the “smoke operation” — a technique originally used to ward off pests, but later found essential for inducing the pineapple to flower.

Protected Designation of Origin since 1996

After more than a century of trading across Europe, Azores/São Miguel Pineapple received Protected Designation of Origin status in 1996 — recognition of this crop’s uniqueness, grown with virtually no chemicals, since common pineapple pests don’t survive the island’s climate.

Planning your visit

• Plantations open to the public: A. Arruda, Ananás de Santo António, and Plantação de Ananás dos Açores, all with free admission.
• Hours: April to September, 9am-8pm; October to March, 9am-6pm.
• What to try: pineapple liqueur, pineapple jam, and fresh fruit at each plantation’s shop.

Best time to visit

Any time of year works, since the greenhouses show pineapples at different growth stages year-round.

Nearby highlights

Ponta Delgada’s historic centre is just a few minutes’ drive away.

After the plantation, head back to Ponta Delgada to round off the day with more local cuisine, or set out whale watching from the same harbour that once exported this fruit around the world.

Learn more about the flora of the Azores.