Pistachios Chapter 22

Value Jump In California, they have increased 70% in value. Which is the highest increased in the state tied with Pecans. They have increased 34.4% in exports as well.

Major Destinations for Pistachios #5 in US Exports (Nuts) Fresh or Dried 1- Hong Kong 38% 2- Belgium 12.4% 3- Germany 8% 4- Netherlands 7.1% 5- China 4.0% Prepared/Preserved 1 1- Canada 56.3% Mexico 10.5% Hong Kong 8.1% Australia 6.2% Turkey 2.2%

California’s Top Commodities 1- Milk & Cream 2- Grapes 3- Almonds 4- Cattle & Calves 5- Lettuce, All 6- Berries, All Strawberries 7- Pistachios 8- Tomatoes, All 9- Walnuts 10- Oranges, All

Leading California Counties, Market Share $ 1- Kern 42.2 % 2- Tulare 18.6 % 3- Fresno 14.0 % 4- Madera 12.8 % 5- Kings 9.8 %

Leading California Counties, Acres harvested, avg. ton/ac, & $/ton 1- Kern 110,000 1.62 $ 4,321.67 2- Tulare 60,000 1.28 $ 4,360.00 3- Fresno 94,000 1.54 $ 1,746.00 4- Madera 33,500 1.75 $ 3,986.71 5- Kings 21,900 1.89 $ 4,303.33

Pistachios – Pistacia vera They belong to the cashew family Originated in Iran Climate needed is a cool, moist winters and hot dry summers. The US is the second largest producer in the world with 31% of the market. (Iran has 48%)

98% of the US crop is grown in California. 2% of the US crop is grown in Southern Arizona and New Mexico. About 239,000 acres produce 89.6 million pounds of in-shell nuts per year. They are alternate bearing trees. Planting is on the rise.

Tree Growth and limiting factors 25 to 30 feet tall. Bear fruit 7 years after planting. Can remain productive for up to 50 years. Dioecious trees, thus must plant male and female trees. Chilling hours = 850 to 1000. Bloom starts in early summer

Climate needed is a cool, moist winters and hot dry summers. Pistachios are cold hardy to about 60F. 40” to 44” of water is needed per year. Production is alternate bearing. Production = 1,700 to 3,800 lbs in shell/acre A fully mature tree can produce as much as 50 pounds of dry, hulled nuts.

Site Selection

Selecting Rootstocks

Choosing Cultivars

Orchard Layout Pg 442

Orchard Floor management, Irrigation & Fertilizers

Insects Navel Orangeworm

Soft scales Black scale Frosted scale

Pistachio seed chalcid

Green stink bug

Leaffooted bug

False chinch bug

Diseases – Powdery mildew

Verticillium Wilt

Botrytis shoot blight

Shoot blight

Oak root fungus

Diseases – Crown rot

Weeds