ARTE Distribution

The nopal cactus or prickly pear is the emblem of Mexico and is omnipresent in the country's cuisine. It grows in tight rows on the slopes of Milpa Alta, on the outskirts of Mexico City. Its medicinal properties are well known, now it is ready to conquer the world as a superfood

Consuelo Lara's fields are located on the slopes of Milpa Alta, the southernmost of Mexico City's 16 districts. In the pre-Hispanic Nahuatl language, "Milpa Alta" means "high altitude wheat field". At over 2,000 meters above sea level, this is where much of the early produce destined for the megalopolis grows. Nopal accounts for 80% of the crop. Consuelo is one of the few women to own a cactus farm and earn a living from it. The small cooperative she set up employs several women. This is not to everyone's taste in this traditionalist region. Nevertheless, Consuelo is determined to make her organic nopal a brand in its own right, with a label of origin. If producers were to join forces, they could sell this superfood at fixed prices, and everyone would win. And that's not all: this cactus has even more "green" qualities that make it a trendy product: it can be transformed into vegetable leather. Adrián López and Marte Cazarez have been working for years on this ecological alternative to animal and synthetic leather. As major consumers of hides, sectors such as the fashion and automotive industries are closely following their work. But for the growers, including Consuelo, daily life remains fraught with uncertainty: will the harvest be able to meet demand?