Barrel Cactus Fruit
How to Harvest: Use
How to Harvest: Fruit can
be easily twisted off the
barrel cactus. Beware of
the curved spines!
Uses: Fruit and seeds can
be eaten raw or cooked.
Benefits: Rich in Vitamin
A and C. May lower blood
cholesterol.
Iskashitaa Refugee
Network
www.iskashitaa.org
520-440-0100
(see reverse for more info)
Dragon Fruit
How to Harvest:
How to Harvest: Ready to
harvest when fruit is soft
and reddish-pink on the
outside. Can be carefully
twisted off the cactus.
Uses: Can be eaten raw, as
a juice, and cooked.
Benefits: Low in calories,
high in Vitamin C,
phosphorous, calcium,
fiber, and antioxidants.
Iskashitaa Refugee
Network
www.iskashitaa.org
520-440-0100
(see reverse for more info)
Prickly Pear Fruit
tongs and thick gardening
gloves to protect from the
glochids (small spines) on
the fruit! Gently twist off.
Use an open flame to
burn off glochids; cut off
the skin for safe handling.
Uses: Can be eaten raw,
as a juice, and cooked.
Also made into soaps and
other products
Iskashitaa Refugee
Network
www.iskashitaa.org
520-440-0100
(see reverse for more info)
Peruvian Apple
Carefully twist off the
cactus. Ready to harvest
when firm and bright red
color; will sometimes split
when ripe.
Uses: Can be eaten raw,
as a juice, and cooked.
Benefits: High in Vitamin
C, phosphorous, calcium,
fiber, and antioxidants.
Iskashitaa Refugee
Network
www.iskashitaa.org
520-440-0100
(see reverse for more info)
When to Harvest:
Typically, late November
to March when the fruit
has turned from green to
yellow. However, the fruit
can remain on the cactus
yearlong.
Also Called: Fishhook
barrel cactus, candy barrel
cactus, compass barrel
cactus, biznaga de agua,
Simil (Seri), Chiávul
(O’Odham)
When to Harvest: Benefits: Helps keep When to Harvest:
Typically July through blood sugar stable. Typically from August to
August and sometimes up September.
to December, depending When to Harvest:
Typically from July to Also Called: Hedge cactus,
on the weather.
September when the fruit giant club cactus, night
Also Called: Pataya, is purple or red. blooming cereus
pitahaya
Also Called: Cactus fruit,
tunas (Spanish), nopalito
(Spanish)