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Prickly pear fruit

Published on 30/10/2009 - Published by GERBAUD Pierre
FruiTrop n°171 , Page 30
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Product(s) : Cactus fig
Rubrique / Thématique : Economic analyses
Country : Latin america , Mediterranean basin , Europe
Keywords : Packing-Packaging , Import , Legislation , Nutrition-Health , Post Harvest , Price , Production

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FruitTrop Magazine n°171

Small Exotic Fruits Close-up. Winter tomato. European papaya Market.

Publication date : 31/10/2009
Price : Free
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Description

The prickly pear is a cactus with leaves like thick paddles covered with spines. The plant is often used to form hedges in producer countries. The leaves lignify in time and become covered with silvery grey bark. It originated in Mexico and Central America and spread to the Mediterranean region after the discovery of the Americas. It is found in tropical and warm subtropical zones and is particularly fond of arid hills, making it an important plant in desert areas. Bright yellow flowers grow on the edges of the leaves and give fruits that are a kind of ovoid berry that is greenish yellow and sometimes orange-red. The fruits are also covered with small spines that must be removed by brushing before sale. Some varieties are spineless and thus more sought-after for sale. The thirst-quenching fruit contains sweet green to yellow pulp with numerous seeds. Some fruit stems are sometimes eaten as a vegetable (nopales). Other types are also sought-after because they are the habitat of a scale insect ( Coccus cacti) used as a food colorant (E120). Prickly pear fruits are generally eaten fresh. They can also be dried or used to make compote, fruit paste and alcoholic drinks.

Supplier countries and calendar

The main prickly pear fruit producer countries are on the Mediterranean and in Central America. The fruit is widely eaten in producer countries and plays only a marginal role in international trade.

Few prickly pear varieties are grown. Spineless types are favoured to make harvesting and sales easier.

pricky pear price

Packing and sizing

Prickly pear fruits are packed in cavity trays in wood or cardboard. Sizing is by the number of fruits per tray. They may also have point-of-sale packaging of the punnet type.