Taste panel rates Crispy Green, Crunchies dried pineapple high

Admittedly, growing up in Hawaii, I have an opinion about anything pineapple. Even the freshest fruits found in local markets don't seem to compare with the pineapples we pulled from the island fields. Dried pineapple pieces, however, can satisfy a quick craving or enhance an entree or dessert without adding fat, calories or too much sugar. We found nine brands of dried pineapple, including some that were freeze-dried and others that were chunky with soft centers. Our panelists preferred the freeze-dried bits to the others.

Kathy Saunders, Times correspondent