The onset of chilling injury will depend on storage temperature, maturity and source of product. Pathological Disorders Decay at the cut stem end may be a problem if nopalitos are stored for longer than 2 weeks. Decay is usually avoided by insuring that the nopalitos have not been damaged when cut from the plant. Decay can also occur during storage at places where spines have penetrated the surface. Special Considerations Cactus stems should be harvested and handled with care to avoid mechanical damage, especially due to spines from one stem penetrating the neighboring stem.
Spine damage leads to a rusty-brown discoloration and pathological problems.
Because of the spines, a cleaned and diced product is an attractive option. The cut nopalitos cannot be washed before marketing because it will cause mucilage to exude and increase discoloration of the cut surfaces. Therefore it is recommended to harvest the stems after 2-3 hours of sunlight. Small nopalitos however, are not CAM-active. One Shields Ave.