What was your first experience with pistachios? Likely it was as an ingredient in ice cream, cookies or cake. Today, however, people are enjoying pistachios as a healthy, high protein snack. As a result, pistachio production is on the rise big time. The International Nut Conference projects the 2024 crop to yield up to 1.2 billion pounds.
Leading the way in pistachios is the United States, with 58% of global production. Orchards are concentrated in California, Arizona and New Mexico. According to the American Pistachio Growers Association, California had 583,400 acres in pistachios in 2023. That number is expected to rise to 811,300 acres by 2031, a 4.3% increase per year.
The United States is the largest exporter of pistachios, shipping nuts primarily to China and the European Union. According to the California Pistachio Research Board, exports during the first four months of 2024 were up 50%.
What’s driving growth? Two major drivers are demand for healthier snacks and alternative proteins. Drill down and pistachios are one of the most nutritious, flavorful, and versatile of nuts. What’s not to like?
Drilling down a bit into the nutritional value of pistachios truly highlights how powerful these nuts are. Their antioxidants rival those of blueberries, cherries, beets, and red wine. Pistachios are a complete protein, high in vitamins B6 and B1; contain folate, vitamins A and E; and pack in a lot of essential minerals, including copper, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, and zinc. This makes pistachios valuable for weight management, controlling blood sugar levels, boosting heart health and the body’s overall immune system.
In addition to its role as an increasingly popular snack, pistachios are now appearing in salads, as a topping for grilled fish and chicken, in Indian chutneys, and vegetarian pasta dishes. The savory crunch is a welcome addition to many dishes and cuisines!
Gearing Up for Greatness
The American Pistachio Growers (APG) is capitalizing on the potential of pistachios. They have expanded their mid-summer luncheon with the first ever Industry Insights Day, set for Friday, July 26, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California.
On the agenda are a breakfast discussing key issues affecting the pistachio industry, continuing education sessions, a state of the industry session with APG staff, exhibitors, and lots of networking. Find all the details here.
Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the new CEO and president of APG, Zachary Fraser. He comes to APG from Learfield, an influential media and technology company in collegiate sports. Zach’s energy and marketing background are a welcome addition to the APG team. Read the press release here.
Smart Apply Steps Up to Help Advance Pistachio Industry
Smart Apply, creator of the Smart Apply Intelligent Spray Control System for high-value crops like pistachios, is a sponsor of APG’s Industry Insight Day. The sponsorship is a natural as the company’s precision spray and data system supports growers’ operations and profitability, regulatory compliance and sustainability goals.
Sold as a kit that can be added to virtually any new or used air blast sprayer, the Smart Apply precision spray and data system is proven to reduce chemical and water use by an average of 50%. The system, which relies on LiDAR to instantaneously gauge the size and foliage density of individual trees before spraying, also reduces chemical run-off and airborne drift by 92% and 87% respectively. Field tests with paper strips show that Smart Apply matches the protection of traditional spraying without over spraying.
The Smart Apply System also captures data during each spray event. This includes date and time of spraying, volume of chemicals and water applied, tree counts, tree health, operator performance and more. The data is uploaded to the Cloud, which growers can access later. This digital documentation is invaluable for improving operational efficiency and also providing real data for regulatory, export and sustainability requirements.
Smart Apply also helps with labor issues. Because the spraying is automated through the Smart Apply app, operators simply hit button and drive. The sprayer automatically shuts off when nothing is sensed. It also stops operators from missing rows or double-spraying rows.
While growers enjoy the immediate cost savings of the Smart Apply System—on average, a grower can cut their chemical spend in half year after year—the ability to protect the health of soil, air, and water is the long-term win. This applies to family-owned and corporate farms, to consumers who want sustainably raised foods, and world at large. The Smart Apply System is definitely a must-have for every pistachio grower.
Smart Apply will be represented at American Pistachio Growers’ Industry Insights Day on Friday, July 27 at the Visalia Conversion Center in Visalia, California, by Noah Sanders, Smart Apply’s district Sales manager for Central and Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Connect directly with Noah here. Learn more about Smart Apply here. Contact us at Hello@SmartApply.com. Smart Apply is a John Deere company.
