Del Monte’s conduct in the production and sale of a variety of whole, extra-sweet pineapples did not violate antitrust laws, a federal judge ruled yesterday.

Southern District Judge Richard M. Berman found that the supermarkets and consumer plaintiffs who charged that the company obtained and maintained a monopoly over the growing, marketing and sale of the Fresh Del Monte Gold or “MD-2″ pineapple, had defined the market too narrowly for antitrust purposes.