Our Story
Our Story
Cappadona Ranch was born from a simple question... founder Victoria Barrera Cappadona asked one hot, dry summer in 2012:
“What can people do with all these mesquite beans?”
As the land around her lay parched from drought, she noticed the mesquite trees were still full of green leaves and hanging beans. Her curiosity led to research—and a revelation: mesquite beans once made up 20% of the native Indian diet and had sustained generations across the Southwest. Among over 40 species worldwide, Texas is home to one of the sweetest—the Honey Mesquite.
What started with a single jar of jelly quickly grew into mesquite coffee, flour, and other wildcrafted products inspired by the land.
Cappadona Ranch is more than a business—it’s a family mission. Everyone pitches in, from Victoria’s husband and children to some of her extended family. It takes a village to prosper, and every product is a labor of love deeply rooted in Texas tradition.
Victoria’s hobby in graphic arts also led the brand to expand beyond the kitchen. Today, Cappadona Ranch offers personalized dinnerware, heritage-inspired apparel, and rustic home goods—all celebrating the rich culture, resilience, and flavor of South Texas.
At Cappadona Ranch, we bring the flavor of the land to life—reviving the past to nourish the present.
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.
