Plants can be propagated from seed, or more easily from cuttings. Depending on the species, the plant grows tall and upright or low and spreading. The Opuntia genus includes hundreds of species of cactus, many of which have edible fruits and leaves (paddles). The juiciest specimens, called “bastardoni” appear in the fall. They’ve got a growing operation in California, and are marketing the fruit as “cactus pears” and cactus paddles as “ nopalitos.” In Sicily, the fruits are highly prized. Prickly Pears and Nopales and GeographyĮdible cactus are so important in some places that the UN’s FAO holds regular symposiums (called “CACTUSNET”) on the utilization of the plant. The D’Arrigo Brothers Company (aka “Andy Boy”, who you may remember from our broccoli rabe article as the folks behind the popularization of that vegetable in the US) is campaigning to popularize both the fruit and the paddles of the cactus. In the US, cactus fruits appear in the mid-summer through fall, although you may find imported fruits in specialty markets year-round. Young cactus paddles are the most tender (and have the smallest spines) - these appear in markets in the spring. If you’re lucky enough to find either the fruits or paddles at your local farmers’ market, talk to the farmer to find out more about his or her growing (or wild harvesting) practices. Just watch out for those spines! Commercially grown cactus may be treated with synthetic fertilizer, especially if they are being grown for their paddles and not their fruit, or with pesticides. They can also easily be wild-harvested in areas where the cactus grows - in the US, you’ll find the cactus everywhere from the Great Lakes to beaches on the East Coast to the Southwest. Prickly pear cactus are champs at growing in marginal environments with little water, making them a better agricultural choice than many other fruits and vegetables, especially in drought-prone areas like California. Sustainability of Prickly Pears and Nopales Both fruit and paddles should be free from mushy or black spots and feel firm when gently squeezed. Look for bright green paddles that are soft, but not floppy. The paddles are usually harvested young - older paddles are tough and their spines are difficult to remove. The fruits we most commonly see in North America are a dusky magenta-red (with a magenta interior) but if you’re lucky you may find yellow, green, orange or even white fruits either at the market or in the wild. If you wild harvest you may have to take the spines off yourself (more on that, below). Some vendors strip the spines off of the paddles and fruit before selling. What to Look for When Buying Prickly Pears and Nopalesīoth the paddles ( nopales) and fruit of the prickly pear are covered in tiny little spines that are certainly not delicious.
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