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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Iwan Stone & Kyle O'Sullivan

World's priciest pineapple costs whopping £1,000 per slice and is grown in UK using poo

The world's most expensive pineapple has been grown in the most unlikely of places - Cornwall.

A 15-strong team of tropical fruit farmers have spent years producing the delicious fruit, which comes in at a staggering £1,000 per slice.

The prickly customer was harvested by growers at The Lost Gardens of Heligan this week and they believe it will sell at auction for a whopping £10,000.

The pineapple plants are kept warm in wooden pits using horse manure, with each one taking two years to grow but only producing one of the spiky fruits.

Back in the 17th century, Brits developed a taste for the delicacy and managed to find a way to trick the pineapple into thinking it was warmer so they could grow the tropical delight in the UK's cold climate.

Taking into account the man hours looking after it, transport cost of manure and maintenance, the pineapple has cost them £1,000 to grow.

The pineapple will set you back a grand a slice (Heligan/Triangle News)
Pineapples growing in the pits at Heligan (Heligan/Triangle News)

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They grow in specially designed pits heated by a supply of fresh, composting manure, whose heat enters the mechanism through vents in the wall.

The fruit experts are quick to point out that the pineapple doesn't actually taste of horse poo, which would be disappointing after two years.

Cornwall does have a micro-climate but pineapples are not commonly produced as it's such an arduous process.

Despite the hefty cost, the team were allowed to have a small piece of the fruit to reward their hard work.

Dina, a part of the Productive Garden Team at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, said: "It was a momentous occasion for the team who were each treated to a small piece of lusciously juicy and deliciously tropical tasting fruit, just as you would have in the tropics!

"After these years of hard work, it is almost sad to crop the fruit, however we take the crown and replant it, letting the pineapple live on to another harvest."

It takes ages for them to grow (Heligan/Triangle News)

Dina and her team claim their pineapples are the "best-tasting outside of the tropics" due to the complexity of their operation.

Pineapple has traditionally been seen as a status symbol and was only served to the wealthiest and most important Brits.

They are thought to have been the first brought to Britain in 1819 - and the plants in the pits were gifted to the Lost Gardens of Heligan by Kew Gardens

"Pineapples are a very labour-intensive fruit to grow," said a spokesperson.

"In auction to the right buyer we believe a price around £10,000 may be imaginable, after all... where else can you buy a pineapple with such a story."

You'll have to fork out for it (Heligan/Triangle News)

Despite the massive price tag, this pineapple is only the third most expensive fruit in the world, but is the highest outside of Japan.

Ruby Roman grapes sell for a ridiculous £7,500 per pound because of their huge size and sweetness.

While Yubari King Melons come in second at £7,200 due to their perfect and totally smooth shape.

Now the wait is on for the next pineapple to be grown - but it'll be a bit of a wait.

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