Cactus pear is one of the species that can be used for food as vegetables “nopalitos” for human consumption. With numerous alternatives for processing of nopalitos it can create juice, patties, salad, jams, cookies, crystallizations, soup, and various other preparation. Vegetable cactus or cactus leaves, has been a traditional food in many countries like Mexico,...
Cochineals (Dactylopius spp) are insects thriving on Opuntia cactus pear species of particular interest, mainly for two important uses, firstly, they present carminic acid in their bodies, which is used worldwide as a pigment due to its high quality colorings properties for food, drugs, cosmetics and other applications; secondly, some cochineals have been used as...
Numerous medicinal properties have already been scientifically evaluated in animal models, in vitro experiments as well as in humans.
Fruit can be processed for jams, marmalades and syrups, or preserved in sugar syrup. Fruit juice may be consumed fresh or processed as fruit jelly, while fruit pulp may be frozen and used as a sauce for ice cream desserts, or blended with other fruit juices such as apple or grape juice.
Cactus pear has gained an important place in the agricultural systems as a source of forage, particularly in subsistence agriculture where cactus has a comparative advantage for its capacity to grow with minimal agronomic inputs as well as for its resistance to drought.