Saguaro harvest – Pima

Description

The fruit of the saguaro, or giant cactus, called “hasen” by the Pima, forms a very important source of the food supply of the tribes of southern Arizona. This fruit is of about the size of a small pear, and is very sweet. It is eaten fresh, dried, or in the form of syrup, and a sort of wine is made from its juice. In gathering it the natives use a long pole with a wooden blade at the end.