Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Category: Pistachios

  • NFL MVP and Pistachio Farmer Josh Allen Teams with Wonderful Pistachios as the Brand’s New Spokesman

    Wonderful® Pistachios has announced a major partnership with Buffalo Bills star quarterback and pistachio farmer Josh Allen, uniting the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player with America’s #1 Nut brand. A native of California’s Central Valley, where Wonderful Pistachios are grown and processed, Allen is part of a fourth-generation farming family whose crops include pistachios, and Wonderful Pistachios is the world’s largest pistachios producer and brand.

    As part of the partnership, Allen will be featured in a national advertising campaign, set to launch this fall at the start of the upcoming football season. The details of the campaign will not be unveiled until its debut but will include comedic television commercials that will roll out across TV, digital and social media platforms. The commercials will showcase the quarterback’s iconic presence and promote Wonderful Pistachios as a powerhouse snack for athletes, football fans, and families alike.

    Beyond the spotlight, the collaboration also brings together the brand and Allen’s shared commitment to giving back to the Central Valley community that raised Allen and where the majority of the world’s pistachios are grown. Wonderful Pistachios and Allen are establishing a college scholarship fund for high school students in California’s Central Valley, supporting local youth in their pursuit of higher education and continued success, which will be unveiled this fall.

    “Agriculture has always been part of my life on our family farm, and pistachios have been a smart, protein-forward snack to fuel my training,” said Allen. “Partnering with Wonderful Pistachios feels like coming full circle. We’re both built on strong roots, and I’m excited to help spotlight a product that’s as real and hardworking as the people in California’s Central Valley.”

    A fourth-generation farmer who grew up in Firebaugh, CA, Allen knows firsthand the value of hard work and the role pistachios play in healthy, active lifestyles. Allen’s family farm grows pistachios that supply Wonderful Pistachios, making this partnership a natural fit rooted in shared values, local pride, and a commitment to wellness.

    “This partnership marks a homegrown alliance that starts where both our stories began, in the Central Valley of California, which grows 95% of the pistachios in America,” said Andy Anzaldo, who leads grower relations at Wonderful Pistachios and is chief operating officer of corporate social responsibility for its parent company, The Wonderful Company. “Josh’s authenticity, work ethic, and deep ties to pistachio farming make him a true ambassador for our brand. Together, we’re investing in the future of the region we both proudly call home.”

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Josh Allen to the Wonderful Pistachios family, and work together to inspire healthier snacking,” shared Michael Perdigao, president of The Wonderful Agency. “One in three people who snack on Wonderful Pistachios do so while watching sports, with football being the most popular, making this partnership a real touchdown.”

    For more information about Wonderful Pistachios, visit wonderfulpistachios.com, or Get Crackin’ with @wonderfulpistachios on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

  • How Farmers can Win in Sacramento

    California farmers are fed up with losing elections and poor representation in Sacramento. That’s why a number of agricultural organizations have combined forces to turn things around.  According to Darrin Monteiro of California Dairies, Inc., California agriculture can win in Sacramento and the time is now to rally together and invest in protecting our future in farming. Watch this interview with Darrin as he shares the mission of the Alliance of California’s Farmers & Ranchers, following a recent presentation with American Pistachio Growers’ Political Action Committee.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor SQM Specialty Plant Nutrition for their industry support.

  • American Pistachio Growers Introduces 2025-26 LeadOn Class

    American Pistachio Growers (APG) recently announced its 15th LeadOn pistachio industry leadership class.  Training motivated individuals with vested interest in the success and future of the U.S. pistachio industry, APG has developed this program to prepare the next generation of pistachio industry leaders.

    Jeff Anderson of Meridian Growers serves as the new Chair of the LeadOn Committee and shared his enthusiasm for the program. “I feel grateful for my new role as Chair,” he said.  “I believe that this course is going to play a more important role for APG moving forward.  Our purpose is to develop the next generation of APG leaders and introduce them to the inner workings of our brand.  Also, the support team is second to none, and I look forward to the future of the program.  I think we have an excellent class this year.”

    Interest in this leadership program has grown tremendously over the years, with the largest class ever having graduated in February 2025.  In order to refine the course and experience, the LeadOn committee determined to make some changes to the program effective this year. “We capped the class at 18 and will remain that size going forward,” Anderson explained.  “We like the smaller and more intimate class size.  Another change is a grading system for each application to make it a little more competitive.  I’m very excited for what’s to come!”

    This year’s LeadOn cohort includes:

    Cody Bennett, Mike Woolf Farming

    Samuel Dircks, Setton Farms

    Nolon Doss, Doss Agricultural Services

    Timarie Hansen, Hansen Ranches & McMarketing Company

    Carlson Herbert, ECO2MIX, Inc.

    Sean Hixson, Western Milling

    Seth Kirk, Seth Kirk Farms

    Cristian Lazcano, Meridian Growers

    Vikram Mann, Diversified Land Management, LLC

    Jonathan Martin, Paragon Personnel, Valley Ag Holdings LLC, Rooted Asset Management

    Esmeralda Miranda, Western Agricultural Processors Association

    Macie Movsesian, Valov Brothers Farms, LP

    Michael Pineda, B4M Land Management

    Aldo Ramirez, Manulife Investment Management

    Silas Rossow, California Ag Solutions

    Hannah Scott, Setton Farms

    Ricardo Soto, Meridian Growers Processing

    Expected to graduate at APG’s 2026 annual Pistachio Industry Conference, this 2025-26 class will meet each month covering topics ranging from pistachio production and processing to marketing, food safety to government relations and advocacy, etc… Learn more about this year’s cohort in the coming issues of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.  The monthly “LeadOn Spotlight” column will highlight each of the class members and their commitment to the future of the pistachio industry, as written by Pacific Nut Producer Editor Matthew Malcolm, an alumni of the program who serves on the LeadOn Committee. Subscribe to receive the monthly publication HERE.

  • Setton Pistachio Announces First Annual Drone Challenge Contest

    Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc., the nation’s second-largest pistachio grower and processor, is excited to announce the recipients of their first annual Drone Challenge contest. This initiative was launched as part of Setton’s commitment to fostering advanced education for students and to encourage the development of future technology leaders and innovators. For more information, visit www.settonfarms.com.

    Setton partnered with Harmony Magnet Academy (Academy of Aviation and Leadership), Porterville Military Academy (Academy of Engineering), Strathmore High School (Emerging Agriculture Technology Academy), and Granite Hills High School (Computer Operations Development in Education Academy), which created teams of students to participate in the challenge. Setton provided the drones, and each team was tasked with designing, developing, testing, and deploying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for targeted operational missions. The school with the winning team received $5,000, and each student received $500. The second-place school received $2,500, and the third-place school received $1,000. Additionally, all the other students received a participation award of $250.

    The 2025 recipients are: first place, Granite Hills High School (students: Christian Gutierrez, Carlos Lara, Shane Thornton, Teddy Santoyo, Ezikel Jimenez, and Rodrigo Millan); second place, Porterville Military Academy (Team 1, students: Connor Lanning, Ariyiah Brazell, Iyari Saucedo, Sawyer Stephens, Abraham Valdovinos, and Aidsa Landeros); and third place, Porterville Military Academy (Team 3, students: Andrew Lemus, Luke Mathis, Jesus Nunez, Marcello Magana, Wendy Tapia, and Bryan Miranda).

    “Setton is proud to provide local high school students who excel in hands-on engineering a platform to innovate and collaborate,” said Setton Farms General Manager Lee Cohen. “This project supports our community outreach effort to foster the importance of integrating technology into local educational curriculum. It was excitingto launch this inaugural competition, and we were extremely impressed by the students’ exceptional projects.”

    “Our CODE pathway students have embodied the graduate outcome skills we expect of our students throughout this drone challenge, especially collaboration and problem-solving,” said Granite Hills High School Principal Jacob Bowker. I am extremely proud of their commitment to excellence and their persistence, as a team, throughout this inquiry process. It’s great to be a Grizzly!”

    Projects were judged on the effectiveness of mission accomplishment, flight plan efficiency, power management, cargo and payload planning, workflow design, mission complexity, and flight logs. The judging panel was comprised of Setton employees, school representatives, and local leaders. Winners were honored at an award luncheon at Setton Pistachio on Friday, April 25.

    Setton Farms launched its College Educational Scholarship Program in 2016 and has awarded 159 scholarships to employees, local community members, and students worth $199,750. For more information on available programs and Setton’s ongoing mission, please contact Patricia Murcia at (559) 535-6050.

    About Setton Farms:

    Setton Farms, the second largest pistachio grower-processor in the United States, is a family-owned and operated brand located in the heart of Central Valley, California since 1986. Highly regarded as “America’s Best Tasting Pistachios,” and widely recognized for its superior quality and tradition of excellence, Setton Farms grows, harvests, processes and manufactures pistachios using renewable energy, eco-friendly practices, and proprietary techniques. Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. offers an established line of premium in-shell and kernel pistachio products that are non-GMO project verified, certified gluten-free, organic and kosher, while a select variety features the AHA heart-check mark. Setton provides pistachios to more than 60 foreign markets worldwide and distributes to wholesalers and retailers throughout the United States. For more information, visit settonfarms.com and follow on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and BlueSky.

  • New Study Reveals Eye Health Benefits of Consuming Pistachios

    A new study on the health benefits of pistachios may have consumers ditching their sunglasses and eating pistachios instead for eye protection. A natural ingredient unique to pistachios is responsible for this amazing impact on eye health.  American Pistachio Growers’ Senior Director of Global Nutrition & Marketing Amber Wilson met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share the details of this research and the impact it’s having on consumers worldwide.  Watch this video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor SQM Specialty Plant Nutrition for their industry support.

  • Four Trending Products with American Pistachios that Consumers are Raving about Worldwide

    Pistachios are trending worldwide, not only as a snack, but also as an ingredient. At American Pistachio Growers (APG) annual Pistachio Industry Conference, growers got to taste the success of APG’s recent strategic partnerships. Sampling a high-value Pistachio & Kunafa (Dubai Style) Chocolate made exclusively with American pistachios was one such product everyone enjoyed, and consumers are raving about it worldwide. Pacific Nut Producer Editor Matthew Malcolm met with APG’s International Director of Marketing, Suzanne Devereaux, and in-country India representative, Sumit Saran, to highlight these new trending products that are strengthening the global demand for American pistachios. Watch this brief interview and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor SQM Specialty Plant Nutrition for their industry support.

  • New Map to Crack the Code of Pistachio Genetics

    California produces 99% of the nation’s pistachios, generating nearly $3 billion in economic value in the state. But pistachios have been slightly understudied in part because of the lack of a high-quality map of their DNA. University of California, Davis, researchers have now generated the most comprehensive genome sequence of the pistachio, allowing plant breeders to create better — perhaps more nutritious — varieties. They’ve also detailed how pistachio nuts develop, which will help farmers manage their crop more sustainably.

    New Phytologist published the study on March 20th.

    Scientists have sequenced the DNA of pistachios before, but co-corresponding author J. Grey Monroe, an assistant professor with the Department of Plant Sciences, said this new genetic map is vastly more detailed and accurate.

    “The improvement in accuracy of the new reference genome is like going from a hand-drawn map of a landscape to a satellite image from Google Earth,” he said.

    Monroe and the research team sequenced the genome of the Kerman cultivar, the most common pistachio variety grown in California.

    Climate change challenges pistachio yields

    Pistachio trees are resilient to drought and salinity, but they require cold winters to flower properly. As climate change brings warmer winters, growers need new pistachio varieties that can thrive in higher temperatures. Warm winters, combined with the dissipation of fogs that cool California’s Central Valley, have caused significant losses for pistachio growers.

    Given that establishing a pistachio tree requires a commitment of up to 50 years, researchers said California growers are understandably concerned about the impacts of climate change on their crops.

    A nutty development

    The study also identifies four key stages of nut growth from flower to harvest, providing a complete physiological assessment, including shell hardening and kernel growth.

    “Knowing how the nut changes through development will help farmers make better decisions, like when to water their trees, leading to more sustainable pistachio production,” said co-corresponding author Bárbara Blanco-Ulate, an associate professor with the Department of Plant Sciences.

    A more accurate assessment of its development could also help provide growers better strategies for harvest and avoid issues such as insect damage and fungal infections.

    Blanco-Ulate said it was important to also detail not just the physical changes of the pistachios, but also the genetic and molecular drivers of those characteristics. The genomic sequence includes precedent-setting information on how different genes behave in nuts over the growing season.

    Nutritious nut

    Pistachios have always been a nutritious food, but researchers have now discovered the genes and pathways that influence their nutritional value. This includes insights into how protein and unsaturated fatty acids accumulate, which is crucial for both their shelf life and dietary benefits.

    “We’re getting information about how all these nutritional characteristics are gained in pistachios and how we can improve that from a management perspective,” said Blanco-Ulate.

    This understanding could help scientists breed more nutritional pistachios in the future.

    The first authors of the paper are Jaclyn Adaskaveg and Chaehee Lee of UC Davis. Other UC Davis authors include Yiduo Wei, Fangyi Wang, Saskia D. Mesquida-Pesci, Matthew Davis, Louis Ferguson, Giulia Marino, Patrick J. Brown, Georgia Drakakaki, Selina Wang and Filipa S. Grilo.

    Research was funded by the California Pistachio Research Board, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research. — By Amy Quinton, UC Davis

  • Despite Trade Uncertainty, American Pistachio Growers Continue Global Market Promotions with Nearly $7M in Federal Funding

    U.S. pistachio production volumes continue to grow steadily, with the bulk of consumer growth opportunities in international markets. American Pistachio Growers has had great success in establishing and building demand for U.S. pistachios overseas, and as such, has recently been awarded nearly seven million dollars in federal funding to continue this growth. Over the last couple months though, federal funding freezes, budget cuts, and the threat of retaliatory tariffs in key export countries has agricultural communities deeply concerned.  Pacific Nut Producer Editor Matthew Malcolm met with APG’s VP of Global Marketing Scott Fryer to discuss how APG is navigating these concerns, all the while staying the course in building global demand for American pistachios in new and established markets. Watch this brief interview and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • American Pistachio Growers Welcomes Five New Board Members

    American Pistachio Growers (APG) welcomes five new board members for 2025. Three new board members were announced at the January board meeting following the tabulation of written ballots in accordance with the written ballot procedures in the APG bylaws. Two other members have been appointed to fill vacancies on the APG board for the coming year.

    The three newly elected board members are Mojgan Amin of Yazd, LP, Brian Ezell of Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., Rebecca Kaser of Avellar-Moore Farms, and Michael Woolf of Mike Woolf Farming Company.

    Two board members were appointed by the approved board process to finish terms of vacated seats. Doenitz Lopez of Ingleby Eriksson, LLC was appointed at the November 2024 board of directors meeting, and Adam Kusmak of Tularosa Pistachio Groves (New Mexico) was appointed during the January 2025 board meeting. They will serve the remaining terms of their respective seats.

    “My team and I are excited to welcome the new board members to American Pistachio Growers,” said Zachary Fraser, President and CEO of American Pistachio Growers. “We look forward to working together to bring the next phase of American Pistachio Growers to new heights and involvement in terms of grower outreach, government affairs and marketing success.”

    Reelected to serve second terms on the APG board were William Bourdeau of Bourdeau Farms, LLC and Paul Huckabay of Keenan Farming Company. At the January 2025 board meeting, APG Board Chair Rich Kreps acknowledged the contributions of five outgoing board members — Ali Amin, Raj Kahlon, Asha Munger, Gary Smith and Jim Zion.

    “These members have served APG’s membership with honor and distinction,” said Kreps. “We are gratified for their volunteer leadership and for helping to guide our organization during their terms of service.”

    American Pistachio Growers is the non-profit trade association responsible for driving global awareness of the quality, nutrition, and brand power of American-grown pistachios. APG represents more than 800 growers and member processors in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

  • American Pistachio Growers Receives Federal Funding to Fuel Global Market Growth

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service announced recently that funds were available via the Regional Agricultural Promotions Program (RAPP) to drive exports of U.S. commodities.  American Pistachio Growers is the recipient of $3.25 million dollars of federal grant funds to drive demand of pistachios worldwide.

    “American Pistachio Growers is very grateful for these funds, “said Scott Fryer, Vice President of Global Marketing. “This will go a long way in our efforts to drive demand in key countries, and drive growth for the pistachio industry. We are also thankful to our growers. Because of their contributions to our organization, we can seek and apply for these grants, turning their investment into more efforts to drive demand.”

    These funds, along with other federal marketing grant funds, now mark over $8 million dollars in marketing grants over the past year.  Funds for the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program can be spent over a multi-year period, at the discretion of the recipient.

    American Pistachio Growers is the non-profit trade association representing more than 865 growers and member processors in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.