Pineapple supply is already on the tighter side, and industry players are warning it's going to get worse. Anthony Serafino of Exp. Group LLC says El Niño is expected to significantly tighten supply in the second half of 2026, with sourcing programs potentially running tight through the remainder of the year.
Pineapples are a high-volume tropical item in North American retail and foodservice, and a supply crunch tied to El Niño weather disruption in key growing regions would pressure both availability and pricing. This adds pineapples to a growing list of commodities — mandarins, blueberries, bananas — facing El Niño-related risk.
Buyers with pineapple programs should be stress-testing their sourcing commitments for Q3 and Q4. If supply tightens as expected, securing volume early and locking in pricing could become a competitive advantage.