Largest producer of cactus

Between 2012 and 2020, Mexico produced an average 836.6 tonnes (922.2 US tons) of prickly pear, aka nopal (Opuntia) – the most commonly cultivated cactus – per year, with a peak of 892 tonnes (983 US tons) in 2019. The country accounts for approximately 45% of global production, followed by Italy (12.2%) and South Africa (3.7%).

It's estimated that the nopal is cultivated over an area between 50,000 and 70,000 hectares (123,550–172,975 acres) in Mexico. The three major hubs of prickly pear cultivation are Puebla, Valle de México and the Altiplano Potosino-Zacatecano.

As well as a food crop for human consumption (both the fruits, known as tuna, and young, tender pads, known as cladodes, are used widely), the cacti are also used for animal fodder and increasing other uses including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and biofuels. There is evidence of its cultivation in Mexico dating back some 9,000 years.

With more than 850 native species (more than any other country on Earth), cacti are an important cultural icon to Mexico, as much as a vital crop. A prickly pear cactus even appears on the Mexican coat of arms, which features on the nation's flag.