Watch out, almonds! There’s a new nut in town.
Pistachios generated $3 billion in California last year, with 1.36 billion pounds of nuts being harvested from 453,750 bearing acres. Those numbers make pistachios the state’s sixth-biggest agricultural commodity in value, surpassing longtime staple crops like strawberries and tomatoes.
Why such rapid growth? It all has to do with the pistachio’s reputation as a hardy, drought-tolerant nut that can withstand California’s extreme swings in precipitation. While almonds require nearly 4 acre-feet of water per acre, pistachios only require 3 acre-feet while still producing more per acre. Pistachio trees rely on wind for pollination, rather than bees, and they produce nuts for decades longer than almond trees. They can be sustained with very little water during times of drought, making them a reliable crop for a state that has experienced some of its driest years on record during the past decade.
If you’re looking to harness the growth potential of a crop expected to deliver 2.08 billion pounds of nuts by 2031, then we’ve got you covered. Check out this archived blog post, which covers planting techniques and harvesting advice for pistachio orchards. Also remember that we’re just a phone call away, whether you’re looking for the right type of fertilizer or need help designing an irrigation system for your pistachio trees.
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