Why are pineapples hard to eat? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 2 days ago by john89@lemmy.ca to c/food@beehaw.org

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It's my understanding that fruits typically are made to be consumed, in the sense that it benefits the evolution of the plant. An animal eats the fruit and perhaps some seeds along with it, the seeds don't get digested and end up in soil somewhere further than the plant could spread on them on its own.

How do pineapples fall into this mix? They're practically impossible to eat without tools, and it looks like it's by design. It also bothers me that they're not as easy to eat as apples.

How would this be beneficial to the evolution of the species?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] schizo@forum.uncomfortable.business 37 points 2 days ago

It's probably fairer to say, 'It's hard for me to get into'.

Rodents and animals like pigs and cows and horses and deer and goats and such are primary seed spreaders, and if you've ever dealt with a rat or a pig or goat, you know there's absolutely nothing they can't eat: plants, fruits, wood, metal....

We're bad at it, but shockingly humans aren't the best at everything ;)

(Also: be careful, because the pineapple is just as interested in eating you as you are in eating it.)