While there are many species of Opuntia, ficus-indica is by far the most economically important. Because it spread so widely so quickly it's exact point of origin was long uncertain, but recent DNA evidence shows it was domesticated from wild species native to central Mexico. It is known that Opuntia fruit were being eaten in Central America at least 9000 years ago. Today crops are grown throughout their original New World range and in arid regions of North Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Israel and southern Italy.

In the early 20th century this fruit was being imported into the US from Sicily and other Mediterranean countries for consumption by recent Italian and Greek immigrants, but its use faded out in the 1950s. Today it is back, but imported from its land of origin, Mexico, for consumption within our large and growing Mexican immigrant communities.

Aside from eating the fruit, the cactus pads are eaten as Nopales. The fruits also have antioxidant and other medicinal value and an extract of the fruit skins has been shown effective in preventing alcohol hangover. The fruit are also used to make a number of alcoholic beverages.

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