THE BIG PINEAPPLE in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa | Books | Craft Centre | Farm | Cultural Centre | Information | Farm | Farm tours | Farm Village

THE BIG PINEAPPLE is "planted" outside of Bathurst in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and offers an info center, curio shop and the history of the Pineapple.

This is the biggest Pineapple in the World! It stands 16.7m high and has 3 floors. It is constructed out of a fibreglass outer skin covering a steel and concrete superstructure.

THE BIG PINEAPPLE ground floor has a gift shop full of pineapple goodies such as jams and chutneys, locally made pottery and puzzles as well as t-shirts and hats to name but a few of the items for sale ideal for overseas and local tourists looking for that small gift to take home!

The 1st floor has tourist Information and static displays of the Pineapple Story. A must visit for kids doing school projects.

One day in 1865 Mr Charles Purdon entering a barber's shop in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape was taken by some pineapples which had come from Natal. The barber, Mr Lindsay Green gave him some of the pineapple crowns (or tops) and this was the beginning of what is today one of South Africa's and the Eastern Cape's largest industries - pineapple growing.

The Bathurst area alone delivers over 135 000 tons annually to the factory in East London. There a two varieties of pineapples commercially grown in South Africa, the smooth leaf Cayenne and the Queen.

The 2nd floor has a continuous DVD on the Eastern Cape pineapple industry and leads up to the observation deck with magnificent 360°views over rolling Farm lands to the Indian Ocean.