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The lectures at the Prickly Pear Festival on August 22 will be held in the newly refurbished library at the Old Superior High School at 98 High School St in Superior. The library has a great expansive view to the west of Picket Post Mountain and it’s worth a visit just to enjoy the view.
9:00 AM Jean Groen, prickly pear expert who also teaches how to use the fruit at the Boyce Thomson Arboretum, will give her signature talk on the ubiquitous ‘tuna’. You’ll hear the best way to handle it, it’s place in the early Spanish history of the New World and the various ways it can be used for jellies, jams and candies.
9:45 AM Jerry Temanson will talk on turning prickly pear wine into prickly pear sparkling champagne
11:00 AM Mike Montiel and Clint from Symbiotic Farms will tell of growing mushrooms in Superior and talk about sustainable farming.
11:45 AM Terry Stone of Superior will speak on the history of the prickly pear.
12:30 PM Hip Veggies will give a speech on using and milling mesquite
1:30 PM Paul Wolterbek from the Superior Arboretum will speak on harvesting, handling and the unique properties of the prickly pear
2:15 PM Steve Shapiro of Superior Organics will speak of medical cannabis and his local dispensary
3:00 PM Natalie McGee of Arizona Cactus Ranch will talk about the various products she makes from the prickly pear including her jams, jellies and nectars.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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