Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Tag: Setton Farms

  • Setton Farms Chocolate Pistachios Selected as Good Housekeeping Awards Winner

    Setton Farms announced that their Dark Chocolate Pistachios with Sea Salt have been named Best Sweet Pistachios in Good Housekeeping’s 2026 Snack Awards. The full list of awards can be found on goodhousekeeping.com/snacks2026.

    Setton’s Dark Chocolate Pistachios with Sea Salt are made in-house in small batches. They’re made with whole pistachios, dry-roasted, with a touch of sea salt that enhances the chocolate’s flavor while balancing overall sweetness. Made with a simple ingredient list, they provide 3 grams of protein per serving. Forgoing a traditional glaze, the Dark Chocolate Pistachios with Sea Salt presents a natural chocolate finish, complemented by a new packaging design.

    Setton also has a premium, award-winning line of seasoned pistachio kernel flavors, including hot honey, Tajín®, buffalo wing, jalapeño, garlic onion, salt and pepper and scorpion pepper. Other products include an in-shell and shelled organic line and a selection of premium dry-roasted in-shell pistachios. — Story contributed by Setton Farms

  • Hot March Results in a Lighter Pistachio Crop

    Hot March temperatures are leading to a lighter pistachio crop this year. However, growers and processors remain optimistic that the 2026 growing season is a fluke, and that the industry will have an excellent yield in 2027. Jeff Gibbons with Setton Farms and Joe Coelho with American Pistachio Growers discussed this anomalous year in the pistachio industry with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Market Growing for Organic Pistachios

    The conversion to organic can take three to four years for pistachio growers, but it has significant potential as the market grows. Leading these efforts is Setton Farms, the largest producer of organic pistachios in America. Setton COO Mia Cohen recently spoke with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network to discuss the recent trends in marketing and the industry. Watch this quick video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • 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.

  • Setton Farms Acquires 50 Owl Boxes From Tulare FFA

    Supporting the next generation of farmers in sustainable stewardship of the land is a priority for Setton Farms, the second largest pistachio processor in the United States. That is why they have partnered with the Future Farmers of America Tulare Chapter to support their agricultural programs while distributing 50 student-made owl boxes across their farming operations. Watch this brief interview with Mike Smith and Jared Castle meeting with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network during the owl box exchange to learn more.

  • Setton Partners with FFA Tulare Chapter to Enhance Environmental Education

    Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc., the nation’s premier pistachio grower and processor, collaborated with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Tulare chapter, including Mission Oak, Tulare Union, and Tulare Western high schools, to acquire 50 student-made owl boxes to help promote natural pest control in its orchards. For more information about Setton’s sustainable farming initiatives, visit SettonFarms.com.

    “We are thrilled to support the talented students of the Tulare FFA Agriculture Mechanics Program and their innovative approach to environmental stewardship,” said Jeff Gibbons, Senior Director of Grower Services & Farming. “Through this collaboration, we are reinforcing our commitment to our local community, sustainable farming practices, and supporting the next generation of farmers.”

    The owl boxes, crafted as part of the students’ 2024 curriculum, promote natural pest control by providing safe habitats for owls in agricultural areas, such as pistachio orchards. Owls are regarded for their role in sustainably managing pest populations, thus avoiding artificial pest control methods.

    The owl boxes will be strategically placed within several of Setton’s organic pistachio orchards and Deer Creek Citrus’s citrus orchards to promote natural pest control methods. This collaborative effort is part of Setton’s broader sustainability plan – which includes water conservation and recycling, soil health, regenerative farming techniques, and alternative clean energy sources – t0 further its commitment to support education, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

    “We are grateful for Setton’s support, which enables our students to bring their projects to life and make a tangible difference in our community,” said Jared Castle, Chair of the Tulare Agriculture Department. “This partnership benefits our local environment and inspires our students to continue their education in the trade, allowing the 450 agriculture mechanics students enrolled in our program to continue to build projects.”

    About Setton Farms:

    Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., the second largest pistachio grower-processor in the United States, is a family-owned and operated company 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, and eco-friendly and sustainable practices. Setton Farms, its retail brand, 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.