Forestry Management
Mesquite Gum
Rancho Lobos comprises an area of more than 16,000 hectares with natural mesquite habitat, in which the species P. glandulosa, P. juliflora and P. velutina, are widely distributed, with P. glandulosa as the dominant species.
Extraction of Mesquite Gum:
Given that mesquite belongs to the Prosopis genus of the Mimosaceae family, its exudate or gum present very simmilar characteristics to those of the genus Acacia, in particular to the gum produced by Acacia senegal, commonly known as Arabic Gum, hence its economic importance as a potential substitute to the imported gum.
This by product of mesquite trees, locally known as Chúcata, is commercialy known as Mesquite Gum. Ocationally receives the name of Algarrobo Gum, although this name is often used in reference to those produced by the South American species P. flexuosa and P. Chilensis natives of Argentina and Chile. Thus, Mesquite gums generally refer to products of Prosopis spp. native to México.Production of Mesquite Gum:Although, mesquite trees produce this substance year round, the rains dissolve it causing it to run down branches and trunk. Thus, production season is considered to begin 2 to 3 months after the winter rainy season, end of March - begining of April, to end with the summer rains at the end of July.
Unfortunately, there is no precise data available for production levels on wild or commercial plantations, extraction methods, or efficient collection at commercial/industrial levels. In the area, this mesquite byproduct is collected in an opportunistic fashion for self consumption and in ocations for resale on local markets.
As part of our forestry management plans, Rancho Lobos has conducted some field data gathering and extraction trials in colaboration with researchers in the field, particularlly from the "Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C." ( CIAD ), to obtain useful parameters in commercial extraction of mesquite gum.
The gum produced by mesquite trees varies in color and composition from watery liquids, el mezquite varía en color y composición desde líquidos acuosos, cristales claros translúcidos, ha cristales obscuros café rojizos, que varían en tamaño desde milimétricos a 7 centímetros de diámetro aproximado. Estos son producto de árboles que se encuentran en condiciones de estrés debido a condiciones externas variadas, generalmente lesiones en la corteza y divisiones de brazos.
Generalmente la goma se recolecta cuando presenta características comerciales deseadas, en cristales mayores a los 2 centímetros de diámetro, de color transparente claro a color ámbar semi transparente. Se selecciona y limpia a mano evitando al máximo el contacto con la piel ya que los cristales tienden a reblandecerse al tacto, para ser empacadas y pesadas en bolsas proporcionadas por el cliente o en contenedores plásticos para ser embarcados a clientes al rededor del mundo.
Favor de contactarnos Rancho Lobos para hacer sus pedidos o solicitar presupuestos.
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