Ormoc City is famous for its Queen Pineapple. It’s small yet intensely sweet and juicy fruit that locals proudly claim as among the sweetest in the world. This dwarf variety of pineapple is a city icon and a must try treat that embodies Ormoc’s agricultural heritage and community spirit.
The Golden Sweetness of Ormoc’s Queen Pineapple
Despite its rough and thorny exterior, the Queen Pineapple reveals a sweet and succulent interior that’s best enjoyed fresh. Weighing between 480 to 700 grams, this pineapple stands out for its syrupy aftertaste and resistance to disease making it both flavorful and reliable for farmers.
Harvesting Pride and Tradition
Sal’s Pineapple Plantation in Barangay Hibunawon alone covers about 100 hectares while Ormoc’s pineapple plantations cover hundreds of hectares. Each year, more than 100 tons of Queen pineapples are produced by these plantations which feed local and neighboring markets of Cebu and Eastern Visayas. From meticulously slicing the prickly fruit in the early morning to packing it for sale, harvest time is a lovingly done task that blends custom, attention to detail, and talent.
Ormoc’s Queen Pineapple is more than just a fruit, it’s a symbol of the city’s resilience, identity, and sweetness that unites both its land and people. Whether enjoyed fresh or celebrated during the Piña Festival, this small pineapple carries the warm pride of Ormoc’s bountiful harvests.
