Have you ever wondered what the white stuff surrounding a prickly pear's fruit is, or how to clean the fruit?
Those questions and more were answered at Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation's Sonoran Desert Kids Club Prickly Pear Harvest program Saturday at Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road.
"We would like to encourage people to learn more about wild food and native foods from the Sonoran Desert," said Yajaira Gray, youth education coordinator for Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation. "The kids have the knowledge, the background, the hands-on activity and the taste to go home with — it's a complete experience for them."
A few dozen children and their parents learned how to harvest prickly pear fruit. They started by picking the fruit and ended with tasting prickly pear juice.
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"I really enjoy coming to these events because the kids get to learn so much about the local area, that they usually don't get to learn in school," said Walter Costello, who took his son Michael with him. "The program is a lot more hands-on, and it gives me time to spend with my son on Saturdays."
Go online to www.pima.gov/nrpr and click on "Environmental Education and Interpretation" for information about upcoming parks and recreation events.
Cactus blast is Saturday
What: Prickly pear fans are in luck this weekend. The Prickly Pear Festival at Rillito Downs, 4502 N. First Ave., will feature information on prickly pears, arts and crafts booths with prickly pear wares, music and a beer garden.
When: The event runs 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday and will benefit the Educating and Mentoring for the Visually Impaired Association, or EMVIA.
Admission: $5 for adults. It's free for kids 11 and under.
For more information go online to www.emviatucson.org/prickly_pear_ festival.htm. or call 290-4770.
