The Flavor of the Land, The Heart of the Brand

Cappadona Ranch began with a simple question on a scorching South Texas day in the summer of 2012. As the drought parched the land and turned everything dry and brown, founder Victoria Barrera Cappadona noticed something surprising—mesquite trees full of green beans, glistening in the sun like Christmas ornaments in July.

Curious, she asked her father-in-law, Fred, “Can anyone do anything with these beans?” He smiled and said, “I have a neighbor who gives me mesquite jelly every Christmas.” That single spark set everything in motion.

Victoria began researching and discovered something remarkable: mesquite beans were once a vital part of the native diet, making up 20% of the food consumed by Indigenous communities across the Southwest. This forgotten superfood had sustained generations, and she saw an opportunity to bring it back.

Cappadona Ranch started with mesquite jelly, then expanded into mesquite coffee, mesquite flour, and other wildcrafted products derived from this resilient, sustainable tree. At our ranch, we don’t need to plant it or water it—the mesquite tree grows naturally in the Texas brush. We simply harvest its fruit and transform it into something extraordinary. As we always say: money does grow on trees—Mesquite trees.

We're proud to be one of the only companies in the U.S. producing a wide variety of goods from the mesquite bean. And it truly takes a village. At Cappadona Ranch, our whole family pitches in—this is a labor of love and legacy.

With a background in graphic design, Victoria has also brought her creativity to our expanding product line. Today, you’ll find hand-designed tumblers, kitchenware, and apparel celebrating Texas history and heritage. Texas was once Spain, was once Mexico—and in Spanish, it was Tejas. That rich history runs through everything we create, blending past and present with pride.

At Cappadona Ranch, we’re not just reviving a native ingredient—we’re sharing the flavor of the land, preserving tradition, and crafting a true Texas experience. Whether you’re savoring our wild mesquite jelly or sipping coffee roasted with care, there’s a Texas gift for everyone at Cappadona Ranch.