By Marina Dunbar – The Guardian
Published January 3, 2025
Pistachios have long polarized the world’s taste buds – the flavor is bold, nothing like the subtlety of an almond or a walnut. You either love them or hate them.
But one side of the pistachio debate appears to be reigning supreme. Pistachios were named nut of the year in 2023, unsurprising to anyone who had an eye on pop culture. Pistachio is now a popular flavor of latte. Pistachio butter and cream became food trends on social media. Vibrant pistachio green even made several appearances on the runway, with fashion designers being inspired by the unique, earthy hue.
The rise of the pistachio in the US can be attributed to California. Pistachios generated nearly $3bn last year for the state, which ranks the nut at number six in value out of the over 400 agricultural commodities grown in the state.
The diminished need for water means that farmers have more readily embraced pistachios, including when it comes to the nut’s biggest rival, almonds, which generated nearly $4bn in California last year. More growers are opting to dedicate land to drought-tolerant pistachios over thirsty almond trees.
“We’re about 70% pistachios right now,” said Jeff Nichols, vice-president of supply chain and grower relations for Nichols Farms. “Of the remaining 30%, only 23% consists of almonds.”
Nichols Farms has been in the nut-growing business for over 40 years, and currently produces more than 35m lb of pistachios and almonds per year, with pistachios being the bulk of the harvest.
“Pistachios are definitely more profitable than almonds currently, they have been for the last nine years,” Nichols said. “They are more expensive to process but overall, growers are making far better returns with pistachios than almonds with a lot less volatility.”
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