Opuntia fruiting and comertial growing habbits

[stefan m.]

Prickly pear cactus may have a home on California farmland as a permanent crop that could produce fruit for up to 15 years.

What does the 15 years part mean?

[ElieEstephane]

When a plant gets, older its fruit production capabilities are reduced. Here we are in the habit of chopping down fruit trees (specially apples and pears which are the biggest commercial fruits here) and replacing them with younger plants. Sometimes an old apple tree will only make 4 crates while a plant 1 year in the soil will make 1.5 crate.

[stefan m.]

yeah, thanks for confirming my doubts. I thought it was lifespan and stuff(but we already discussed that).
So its kinda like "exploitation time" like on solar panels and water power plants.