Superior celebrates the
2nd Annual Prickly Pear Festival
August 24,2013.
Author Jean Groen has picked thousands of prickly pear cactus fruit over the years – she may well be Arizona’s expert on the red-purple fruit that ripen each July and August. Where does she find the best prickly pears? Superior, Arizona! Jean states “ Prickly pear fruits there have the most vivid magenta juice of any I’ve picked anywhere,” said Groen. “They’re the best tasting, too – and even in drought years the plants seem to yield enough fruit for people to harvest, while still leaving enough for all the desert critters which depend on cactus fruits.”
August 24, 2013 the historic copper mining town of Superior hosts a new prickly pear festival featuring a morning “how to pick and juice ‘em” class by Jean Groen. Additionally, visitors to the festival can enjoy other free experiences from a number of ‘all things prickly pear’ vendors.
The one day event also showcases local restaurants which will have a special signature dish celebrating the ripe fruit, from sweet prickly pear syrup to refreshing prickly pear margaritas at Porter’s Café.
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| This festival evolved from the popular series of prickly pear classes that author Jean Groen coaches at nearby Boyce Thompson Arboretum, a botanical garden just west of Superior that offers weekend nature walks and specialty workshops. “At least 1,500 people have attended our cactus classes over the past five years,” said Groen, “these classes really struck a chord – each year the attendance increases, so having a prickly pear festival in Superior will be a great way to expand, allowing more people to attend, and to experience a wider variety of cactus cuisine”.
Superior Chamber of Commerce event planners will keep some elements of the festival, such as Groen’s popular class, free, encouraging families to attend and learn together. Those who truly want to be immersed in cactus cuisine can enroll in a home-brewing class taught by Pete Rendek during the afternoon where they’ll learn to make a prickly pear IPA (Indian Pale Ale). This informative and fun class will be held at Porter’s Café. |
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Last Updated on Friday, 24 May 2013 12:15 |
Upcoming Events 
August 24, 2013 the historic copper mining town of Superior hosts a new prickly pear festival featuring a morning “how to pick and juice ‘em” class by Jean Groen.