Production in world according to countries in general

Growing countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Italy, California, Arizona

Nevertheless the leading world regions growing pistachios include above all Iran, Turkey, and the San Joaquin Valley in California. Varieties of Iranian pistachios are nearly impossible to be found in the USA due to hard commercial directives with Iran. The import tax amounts to more than 300%. At present the largest supplier of pistachios to the USA is Turkey. Most Turkish produce comes from the foothills of dry arid mountains in the west and south-west of Turkey, particularly from the Gaziantep and Urfa regions.

Iran

Pistachio nuts from Iran are considered in the world to be first-class due to their delicious taste having no competition. These pistachios are irreplaceable for a lot of gourmets. The Iranian top quality is well-known all over the world. Nowadays pistachios are supplied in a large quantity above all due to the support and efforts of Iranian pistachio growers. Traditional agriculture connected with modern methods provides pistachios from Iran with a guarantee of full taste and preserves their full and natural taste. Iranian pistachio growers have decided on achieving crops of an even better-quality and they also want to enlarge the pistachio growing area.

Pesticides are used to a minimum extent in order to preserve the natural quality of the crop – approximately twice a year. Iranian pistachios do not need any other treatment or whitening, neither their appearance nor their taste need improving.

Since 1982 the export of Iranian pistachios has had an increasing trend, the welcomed sign being that they are more and more easily available throughout the world; consumers are captivated by Iranian pistachios.

In Kerman, the southern heart of Iran, pistachio orchids spread throughout the whole country. Originated in Iran, these wide and massive trees receive their nutrients from the special composition of the Kerman soil. When the harvest time is approaching, pistachio trees become heavy with violet-pink bunches – the outer protective skeleton of pistachios. Nuts develop under this cover and grow well in the heat, in the hot climate of southern Iran. Pistachio nuts are picked just before the fine violet peel gets cracked, i.e. as long as pistachios are on trees, their kernels are still protected. Farmers growing pistachios see that their precious crop comes to customers throughout the world in the same excellent condition.

USA

During the harvest, pistachio shells are often contaminated and not attractive to look at. Processors in the USA sometimes use a non-toxic red vegetable dye that causes nuts to have a pleasant visual appearance, or they use chemical substances to white shells. Some customers insist on the red colour of pistachios themselves. Nevertheless in California, pistachios are mechanically peeled and dried and approximately 95% of their quantity is not dyed and is left in the natural condition.

Approximately 98% of American pistachios are grown in California, the remaining produce comes from Arizona, New Mexico and limited quantities from western Texas as well. In California, pistachios are grown in the north above all. San Joaquin Valley with its surroundings belongs to the main growing regions due to its dry climate and soil.

Pistachio trees are able to live and produce fruit in favourable conditions for a very long period of time.

California approximately produces up to 100 thousand tons of pistachios in their shells every year.

California is usually the second largest producer of pistachios – following Iran. But in 2004, of the total world produce of pistachios – about 250 thousand tons, some 110 thousand tons of pistachios were grown in the USA and 100 thousand tons in Iran; the remaining produce was divided among Turkey, Syria and Greece.

Production of Iranian pistachios approximately reaches 0.8 – 1.5 ton per hectare. The yields of pistachios grown in the USA are higher, which results in a weaker taste. Pistachios in the shells are roasted and salted, they are suitable as a snack. Peeled pistachios are then used in sweets, ice-creams, bakery products and also as flavouring agents.

There are large arguments concerning the quality of pistachios with regard to their origin. Consumers of Turkish and Iranian pistachios claim that Californian pistachios look nice but are tasteless. On the other hand, consumers of Californian pistachios argue that their taste can be compared with Iranian pistachios and furthermore, they are larger, fresher and easier to open.

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