Pineberries Delivery or Pickup

If you've come across what looks like a white strawberry at the store, you may have asked yourself what in the world it was. This white berry may appear to be a small, underripe strawberry, but when you look closely, you'll notice that it's called a pineberry or hula berry.

Pineberries are slightly pink or white with tiny red seeds, resembling a strawberry. When you bite into a pineberry, you'll get the taste of a strawberry with a hint of pineapple. Although this little gem has no relation to the pineapple, the hybrid flavor of strawberry and pineapple is what inspired its name.

Red strawberries came to North America from Europe in the 17th century, but approximately 100 years went by before the white strawberry was introduced from South America. A white strawberry is a female berry and is considerably harder to grow. White strawberries need bees to continue pollinating them as well as red strawberries around to flourish. The red strawberry is a male strawberry, which is self-pollinating, making that variety easier to grow and more plentiful. Hans de Jonghare, a Dutch breeder, decided to crossbreed red and white strawberries about 20 years ago, thus inventing the pineberry.

PIneberries are rich in vitamins C and A, much like their red counterparts. However, because most pineberries are imported from Holland, they tend to be more expensive for consumers. Pineberries were introduced in the United States in 2012. An Instacart shopper may be able to find them in the produce aisle for about five to six weeks between April and June.

Gardeners can grow pineberries in pots or the garden as long as they use rich composted soil and keep the plants well-watered. Pineberry plants are most active the first few years and will need to be replaced once they become less active. You may not notice any berries on your plants during the first growing season.

You can tell that a pineberry is ripe by looking at the color of its skin. Once a pineberry turns from a greenish-white to a slightly creamy, pinkish-white, the berry is ripe and ready to be picked and enjoyed. If you leave the berry on the plant a little past ripening, you'll notice that the skin will turn a light pink blush in color.

Much like a traditional strawberry, pineberries should have a firm appearance and offer a sweet aroma. If a pineberry looks wrinkly or discolored — in this case, too pink — use it that day, as it's on its way to rotting soon. Visible mold on either the outside or the inside of the pineberry is a definite sign of rotten berries that should be tossed. Pineberries are very soft when ripe, making them a delicate produce item.

When pineberries are available in season, simply add them to your cart, and an Instacart shopper will take over from there. They will go to the store and shop for all of the items in your cart, including the pineberries. Instacart shoppers are well-versed in selecting high-quality produce that you will enjoy eating. Once your shopper has completed your purchase, they will even deliver your groceries right to your doorstep. Same-day delivery is often available, with some purchases arriving in as little as 2 hours!