August is the season that the beautiful red fruit of the prickly pear cactus ripens.

This plant is ubiquitous and edible! Join us in harvesting this fruit, learning how to clean it and how to render juice from it. From the juice we will make jelly. Then, from the tender young prickly pear pads we will demonstrate how to prepare nopalitos, which have been a Mexican staple for over a millennia. Interspersed with all the hands-on will be natural and cultural history bits surrounding the nopal. Did you know that it was the the cochineal insect that bestowed the deep red color unto the Spanish kings’ robes? Participants will take home their harvest. Member price is 10% less.

Additional Information:

Where to Meet: Desert Museum Education Annex

What to Expect: We will collect fruit around the museum, clean it, demonstrate how to extract the juice using several methods, and demonstrate how to made jelly. You will take home your fruit.

What to Bring: Hat, tweezers (optional), long sleeves and pants, close-toed shoes, water bottle and a bucket, bowl or large pot for taking home your fruit. We will provide tongs and buckets for collecting.

Cancellation: If cancellation is made more than 15 days in advance, payments will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. No refunds can be made within 15 days.

Questions: Contact the Reservation Coordinator for registration issues at education@desertmuseum.org. For other concerns, including mobility, contact snorman@desertmuseum.org or on the morning of the harvest call Sonya at 520-971-9335 or Jesus at 520-624-0995.