At peakfruitAugust–October

Prickly pear

Prickly pear is at peak natural U.S. harvest right now.

Prickly pear fruit ripens and is harvested across the Southwest in late summer. Store availability outside a natural U.S. harvest window may come from imports, domestic storage, or controlled-environment production.

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Why it belongs now

U.S. harvest · Saturday, August 29, 2026

Selected for California

Southwest, South Texas. Active U.S. growing states include Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California.

Best uses right now

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Choose the best

Shopping tips

Choose produce that feels fresh, firm for its type, and free of soft or leaking spots.
Look for color and aroma that fit the ripe stage you plan to use it at.
Skip badly bruised, moldy, shriveled, or damaged pieces.

Make it last

Storage guide

Keep uncut produce dry until you are ready to use it.
Refrigerate ripe or cut fruit promptly when the commodity requires chilling.
Store cut pieces covered and use them while flavor and texture are still fresh.

Ask Tamáty anything.

Get practical help with ripeness, storage, substitutions, meal ideas, and what is worth buying in California today.