Why Tiny Cactus Bugs In Red Food Dye Are A $35 Billion Industry | Big Business | Insider Business

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Cochineals are tiny bugs that live on prickly pear cactuses. The acid in their guts makes a red dye used in textiles, cosmetics, and foods like M&Ms and Yoplait yogurt. Indigenous people across Latin America traded it for thousands of years. It can be found on the walls of archeological sites, in priceless paintings, and in the robes of kings. But today, Peru dominates the market, and Mexico’s cochineal farms are disappearing.
We met a few of the country’s last farmers trying to keep the ancient tradition alive.
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Why Tiny Cactus Bugs In Red Food Dye Are A $35 Billion Industry | Big Business | Insider Business

Опубликовано:

21 янв 2023

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Комментарии : 6 тыс.

@lt530 Год назад

I'm all for animal rights, but these are literally bugs. Also, it doesn't sound like they're screwing up an ecosystem or overcultivating. Not my field, but I don't see the problem with this ancient practice being protected.

@AzazelBathory Год назад

I love how these ladies revere the insects and take honest pride in this. It’s beautiful to see such respect and passion in what they do

@tired690

Theres a gofundme for catalina's cochineal business. Its called Let's rescue cochineal dye mexico and it's run and maintained by Claudia. It hasn't reached its 5k goal but if you wish to continue the cochineal usage in Mexico I recommend giving it a donate!

@leighmiller78 Год назад

Please don't stop raising these amazing bugs! This is an amazing process and we need to support this profession!

@KellsieThomas Год назад

She’s so sweet and soft spoken. Her love for her culture is admirable to the extreme! So awesome!

@kylenevel8809 Год назад

I used to have these bugs grow on my cacti on my porch here in Arizona. They honestly grossed me out as a kid but the reverence and respect these women show for the bug is honestly heartwarming.

@walden6272

The bugs gets to live a full, comfortable life that is protected by the farmer and in return they give the farmer their dead body to produce the red dye. What a beautiful mutually beneficial relationship.

@savannahwilson9955 Год назад

Bless her!! She is one special, & amazingly talented woman!!! I’m seriously amazed by her attitude. She just gives off kindness & looove vibes!!! 🫶🫶🫶

@KatherineDattilo Год назад

I'm an artist who appreciates this so much, and also a person who is horribly allergic to artificial dyes, no kidding red 40 has nearly ended me a couple times.. I sincerely hope that this tradition does not die out, the love these women have for their craft is so lovely

@skaareen Год назад

“Cockroaches are ugly, but these are just beautiful”

@alecjoncas7764 Год назад

I absolutely love this lady…I hope the practice continues, it has been around for generations and should continue to be, not everything needs to be shut down bc off modern ideals

@Scott-jf1nh

The Spanish imported these dried cochineal scale insects just after the conquest. They made a fortune from these mysterious ‘seeds’ as their competitors called them. Before they were discovered there were few options to permanently dye fabric red. Kermes, another insect in Europe was one and very weak in comparison. The English had madder root but it was very difficult to use and impermanent. This new red was amazing and very costly for many decades. Everyone thought it was a seed from the new world. In transit across the ocean, the legs of the insects falls off of it and it does look like a strange seed. It wasn’t until the microscope was invented that the secret was discovered. Secret Agents were dispatched to the new world from various countries in order to find the insect and bring them back to breed in Europe. It never really worked. Now Mexico, the land that brought us chocolate AND vanilla has lost the industry to Peru. Spain made more money from the cochineal than gold in all those years, it is said. A good book to read on this subject is, “The color red.”

@FolkloreLover Год назад

This is a wonderful practice! There is no environmental cost from this production, there is no abuse in the bug’s cultivation, the harvest is quick and merciful. This practice is far better than others that harvest from other animals. Huge props to these ladies!

@aidensiebert6291 Год назад

The way she talks about the bugs it’s quite admirable I love how much she cares not only about her job but also her culture

@CensorshipIsOpression

I love natural dyes that aren't harmful to the eco system or to the ones consuming/using the products.

@240SSONLY Год назад

The lady being interviewed has such a sweet old lady voice. You can tell she works hard as hell to keep those Nopales covered in bugs.

@user-xc5bz3np4g Год назад

The way she describes everything…conejitos, cuerpecitos- it’s so cute and endearing. I hope she can keep her business going

@WanderingMiqo Год назад

I think this is so awesome. Growing up in a Mexican household, we always had a lot of nopal plants around. I used to see these white bugs on a few of the paddles. I knew what they were but never thought much about them. I think it's amazing how creative humans are.