As a native Arizonan, I've been subjected to the grueling desert heat since I was but a wee toddler, and I admire the Saguaro for its capability to grow in the middle of a desert without much water -- in fact, I have wished I was a tall green Saguaro on those really hot days when I feel like I'm melting from the 100+ degree temperatures outside. I am also amazed that Saguaros produce fruits that are beautiful sights to behold when they are ripe and blossoming.

The opportunity to attend a UBRP field trip to harvest the Saguaro fruit with the Tohono O'odham people was a chance I could not pass up. However, I was initially baffled as to how we would be able to eat fruit with spiky things poking out of them everywhere, but this was easily answered the moment we arrived at the harvesting spot located in Saguaro National Park West (they are not actually that spiky). What the harvesting boiled down to was: 1) a very long pole made of two saguaro ribs tied together with wire to knock down the ripe fruits, 2) a fairly sizable bucket to catch the fruits in, and 3) eager Saguaro fruit harvesters.

Catching the fruit was somewhat scary because you could never be too sure what surprises your fellow group members would knock down or where anything would land. The fruit itself, though, was surprisingly tasty and there was a certain satisfaction of having knocked down a fruit from way up off the ground. All of this was, however, very hard work, as the bucket of fruit became heavier, and knocking down fruit lost its initial excitement. I have a newfound respect for the Tohono O'odham who spend day after day camping out and rushing to harvest the fruit to make jams, jellies, and wine before the arrival of the monsoons.

After our 1-2 hours worth of harvesting, the Tohono O'odham people prepared dinner and explained some of their customs and traditions -- however, I would fail to do those stories and customs justice if I tried to share them, so I will simply end by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the field trip and will definitely be attending the next harvest! And, if you want to hear about Tohono O'odham Saguaro harvest customs and traditions, you will come along as well.

Alice Ferng, UBRPer in Dr. John Szivek's lab, Surgery/Orthopedic Research Lab