This May Be a Little Fruity

Today marks National Pineapple Day! And while I don’t particularly like the fruit itself (it’s a texture thing), I decided to branch out and talk a bit about what the pineapple represents and how PR pros are, in my opinion, similar to this golden little vessel. I also thought it was appropriate since our fearless leader, Abbie, just returned from the land of pineapples (Hawaii) herself.
To begin, you might need to know more about this fruit to better understand its deeper significance!

• Pineapples are not a single fruit, but a group of berries that have fused together.
• Pineapples were historically very useful on long boat trips, preventing scurvy when consumed.
• It can take more than two years for a pineapple plant to produce a single fruit.
• Pineapples are not native to the Hawaiian Islands. They actually originated in South America!
• In Hawaiian, a pineapple is called “hala kahiki” because Hawaiians thought the pineapple resembled “hala,” meaning fruit. “Kahiki” means foreign, so pineapples are literally called “foreign hanas in Hawaii.”

Now, you may be thinking, that’s nice, but what does it have to do with PR pros? Similar to those in this industry, pineapples are considered to be a symbol of warmth, welcome, friendship and hospitality. I believe that as PR professionals, it’s in our nature to not only serve up the gift of gab wherever, whenever, but do it in a way that helps to put the other person at ease. This comes in handy when dealing with clients who are in the midst of a crisis or are working on a large project with you. It’s our job to let them know that we can handle this and, in doing so, establish a friendly and warm rapport with that person/company.
In addition to this, PR pros, like the pineapple, need to have thick skin.  Being in public relations, it is inevitable that you will get shot down quite often, but to be successful, you have to withstand criticism and persevere.
Are there any other fruits that you think would fit the bill? If so, I’d love to hear your suggestions!