The prickly pear is not a pear, but the fruiting body of a cactus flower. Known also as Opuntia, tuna, or nopal, these plants are native to the Western Hemisphere. They have since been introduced to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The fruit varies in color, both the flesh and the skin, depending on the variety. To enjoy this prickly fruit, the skin must be removed carefully as it contains very sharp spines. The leaves are used in Mexican cuisines, but the fruit is more versatile, used in appetizers, bread, beverages, candies, desserts, entrees, jelly, juice, soups, salads, and vegetable dishes. The pulp of the plant was used in folk medicine to stop bleeding, but one recent study indicated that opuntia had other medicinal properties, as it aided or prevented diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. It is a good source of vitamin C and magnesium.
Juice concentrates are at the core of what we do. When the fruit is not grown in our area, we procure product from select, pre-approved suppliers from various parts of the world. Everything we sell goes through rigorous evaluation and testing procedures. Juice concentrates are stable products, easy to store and to transport, and work extremely well in beverages, hard seltzers, cocktail mixes, kombucha, and any nutraceutical application.
Not from Concentrate juices are a main pillar of our business. If the fruit is not grown in our area, we purchase the raw materials from select, pre-approved suppliers. Everything we sell goes through rigorous evaluation and testing procedures. Not from Concentrate (NFC) juices, with their clean label and minimum process, are ideal for a variety of applications, including hard ciders and brews, wine and spirits, natural and premium juices and beverages.
