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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Nopales |
| Scientific name | Opuntia ficus-indica |
| Family / Genus | Cactaceae / — |
| Produce category | Other |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4726 |
| PLU — organic | 94726 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_5183 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 20.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milpa Alta | 45% | The most commercially dominant variety, known for large, tender, thick, and relatively thornless pads. Excellent flavor and high yield. Bright green color. Highly valued for its versatility in cooking |
| Atlixco | 18% | A significant commercial variety, popular for its good flavor, tenderness, and medium-sized, smooth, green pads. Widely grown in Mexico and imported to the US. |
| Verde Liso | 12% | A general classification for various smooth, green, thornless nopales varieties. Valued for ease of preparation and mild flavor. Pads are typically medium to large. |
| Copena V1 | 8% | A specific cultivar developed for improved yield, quality, and thornlessness. Pads are medium to large, green, and tender, making it suitable for commercial production. |
| Copena V2 | 6% | Another improved Copena variety, similar to V1 but with potentially different growth habits or slightly varied pad characteristics. Focuses on high yield and quality. |
| Rojo Liso | 4% | A general classification for smooth, reddish-tinged nopales pads, especially when mature or under environmental stress. Offers a visual distinction from green varieties, with similar flavor profiles. |
| Peralta | 3% | Known for good production and quality, with medium-sized, tender green pads. Less common than Milpa Alta but valued in certain growing regions for its consistent performance. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 41°F.
- Freezing point: 30°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 3 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | low |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Nopales are non-climacteric and have low ethylene production and sensitivity. However, prolonged exposure to high ethylene concentrations may accelerate senescence and decay.
Mixed-load compatibility
Compatible with non-ethylene producing, chilling-sensitive commodities.
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Increasing, driven by demographic shifts and culinary interest
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -1 |
| Income elasticity | 0.7 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.2 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Standard Green Nopales | 100% |
Pack sizes
- 20-25 lb cartons
- 1 lb bags/trays
- 10-12 oz containers
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.