ABOUT US
Cactus Africa Co. is a specialist supplier of South African prickly pear seed oil for cosmetic and personal care formulation. We focus on delivering a premium botanical ingredient with traceability, integrity, and consistent quality. Our clients include brands, laboratories, and distributors who require a reliable supply supported by clear documentation and transparent sourcing across the entire supply chain.
SUSTAINABLY SOURCED
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We work directly with Heirloom Orchard, a multigenerational farm in South Africa’s Free State province, to ensure responsible cultivation. Prickly pear cacti grow under natural conditions, free from pesticides or chemical intervention, producing seeds of consistent quality.
Each crop is hand-harvested and sun-dried, supporting local communities and providing fully traceable, ethically sourced raw material suitable for professional formulation.
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BUILT ON EXPERIENCE
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Cactus Africa Co. was founded on hands-on experience with prickly pear seed oil and the knowledge of what it takes to supply an ingredient professionally. Our team has developed and launched award-winning skincare products using this oil, giving us practical insight into performance, compliance, and market expectations.
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We bring this knowledge to B2B partnerships, ensuring every supply meets professional formulation standards with confidence.
AT THE HELM
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The company is led by Mich Roeloffs, Founder and CEO, whose experience spans both skincare formulation and ingredient supply. Mich identified the need for reliable, traceable botanical ingredients and established Cactus Africa Co. to fill this gap.
She remains closely involved in sourcing and quality oversight, ensuring every batch meets both local and international standards, supporting partners who value clarity, consistency, and responsible supply practices.
QUALITY + DOCUMENTATION
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Our prickly pear seed oil is carefully extracted and independently tested in ISO- and GMP-accredited laboratories, with batch-specific Certificates of Analysis provided for each supply. Documentation is central to our approach, including traceability records, Safety Data Sheets, and technical information.
This ensures formulations are fully supported, compliant, and reproducible, giving brands, formulators, and distributors confidence in every batch they receive.
OUR APPROACH
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We focus on one ingredient and do it properly. By combining direct farm partnerships, professional handling, and robust documentation, we provide premium prickly pear seed oil that respects its origin and meets industry expectations.
This method supports long-term partnerships built on trust, reliability, and shared values, offering clients a consistent, transparent, and responsible raw material supply for cosmetic and personal care formulation.
FREE STATE, SOUTH AFRICA
HEIRLOOM ORCHARD
Our prickly pear seed supply originates from Heirloom Orchard in Jagersfontein, near Bloemfontein, a region naturally suited to the cultivation of resilient Opuntia ficus-indica.
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The farm operates according to regenerative agricultural principles, combining prickly pear cultivation with pasture-raised ranching. Cattle are managed through low-stress stockmanship and live naturally on open pasture, never confined to intensive feedlot systems. In season, they are often fed fresh cactus cladodes (the fleshy leaves of the plant), which form part of a diverse, natural diet.
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Hay is produced on the farm to support the herd through seasonal shifts, ensuring consistent, traceable feed grown on the same land that sustains the orchard. Together, these practices contribute to soil health, biodiversity, and long-term land stewardship.
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Prickly pear fruit is harvested at optimal ripeness. The seeds are mechanically separated, thoroughly washed, gently brushed, and air-blown to remove residual pulp and impurities. They are then naturally sun-dried under controlled conditions to preserve quality and stability. Once dried to specification, the seeds are packed into bags and prepared for pressing.
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This integrated and traceable supply chain, from regenerative land management through to seed preparation, ensures consistent, export-ready raw material suitable for cosmetic and formulation use.
REGENERATIVE ORIGIN
Regeneratively managed orchard integrating pasture-raised cattle, low-stress stockmanship, and on-farm hay production.
PASTURE-RAISED ECOSYSTEM
Open pasture grazing.
No feedlot confinement.
Seasonal feeding of cactus cladodes.
HARVEST
Fruit hand-harvested at optimal ripeness to ensure mature, high-quality seeds.
SEED PREPARATION
Mechanical separation, washing, brushing, and air-blown cleaning.
NATURAL DRYING + BULK PACKING
Sun-dried under controlled conditions.
Packed into bags.