History

Dating back hundreds, possibly thousands of years, mesquite has played a significant role in the lives of those who have lived in harsh arid climates throughout the world. Anthropologists suspect that mesquite’s origins are in South America and that the seeds were carried north by cattle and other animals that were herded north into what is now the Southwestern US.

Throughout history, mesquite has been used as a building material and as a source for warmth & food. The Spanish Missionaries quickly discovered mesquite’s beauty and durability and used it as a building material for missions that stand to this day. Shipwrights also discovered that mesquite was virtually impervious to water and used the wood to construct fishing vessels. There are still examples of these boats in the shrimping fleet of certain regions of Mexico after 40-50 years!