Harvest Time in the Saguaro Forest
Keasey MS. 1975. Harvest Time in the Saguaro Forest. Pacific Discovery
Essay describing the annual saguaro fruit harvest in the Sonoran Desert in Southern Arizona. Saguaros produce clusters of waxy, white blossoms encircling the crown of each trunk and arm usually in early May. Approximately, a month later, in June, large, green fruit pods form. Under the heat of the summer sun the fruit ripens quickly to a vibrant red. By the time the first pod has split open, the Papago Indians prepare for their annual fruit harvest. For centuries, the Papago (Tohono O'odham) have been harvesting and processing saguaro fruit. Fruit becomes syrup for ceremonial wine, jam, gravy. Seeds and pulp are dried and can be ground into a powder for other uses.
- Type
- Generic Document
- Authors
- Keasey, Merritt
- Date of Issue
- 1975-03
- Publisher
- Pacific Discovery
- Units
- SAGU
- Keywords
- harvest, harvest camps, harvest stick, Papago, saguaro, saguaro fruit, Sonoran Desert, Tohono O'odham
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Desert Communities , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Consumptive Use | Consumptive Use , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Cultural Landscapes | Cultural Landscapes , NPS.gov Subject Site: Deserts , NPS.gov Subject Site: Iconic Trees , NPS.gov Subject Site: Telling All Americans' Stories , NPS.gov Subject Site: Traditional Ecological Knowledge