Pineapple is the new potato: imported fruits back in Syria

Fruits that were once designated luxury items, meaning they were accessible only to Syria's wealthiest, are now as common as potatoes or onions, cooking staples for many of the country's population. "We used to smuggle them in," said 46-year-old fruit vendor Marwan Abu Hayla with a big smile as he displayed his produce at Damascus's Shaalan market. Grocers used to face fines and even imprisonment for importing exotic fruits. But now "we do not hide pineapples any more -- we can put them on display"...