As evidence point to increased global demand, American farmers are hopeful that their crop may continue to gain market share.
The crunchy green, little vitamin bombs have recently been spotted in everything from Starbucks drinks to fillings for croissants to full meals.
According to Capital Press, California’s pistachio industry is thriving and expected to grow even more as a result of its popularity. Between 2016 and 2020, growers increased the state’s pistachio acreage by 173,540 acres, and by 2022, that number had increased by 20% to 74,614 acres. The nuts may survive in areas of the state that resemble a desert.
The Administrative Committee for Pistachios reports that in each of the two years prior, 35,000 new pistachio trees were planted in California. Pistachios are noted for having a long juvenile phase and often producing a small number of nuts before the age of five. They reach full bearing between the ages of 8 and 12. After Iran, the U.S. is the world’s second-largest producer of pistachios. The top state for pistachio production in California. New Mexico and Arizona are also gaining ground.
However, according to Andrew Ramirez, manager of Consumer & Customer Market Insight at Torani, floods “wreaked havoc” on California agriculture in 2023. “We’ve observed several years of decreased agricultural yields because of drought conditions; scarcity also increases interest. Floods in 2023 also severely damaged California’s pistachio harvest. So, would a smaller crop also lead to more demand? It could.
The Development of Pistachios
Pistachios have a long history and are even mentioned in Genesis in the Old Testament. The Middle East has had pistachio plants for thousands of years.
More intriguing pistachio varieties are now available to consumers than ever before. In the US, you effectively had a choice between pistachios that were dyed red and those that weren’t thirty to forty years ago, according to Ramirez. From just being able to eat pistachios in their shells to now being able to sample them in baklava in a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean restaurant, we’ve gone a long way.
The pistachio market is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% between 2022 and 2030, from an estimated $4.3 billion in 2022 to a revised $6.6 billion by 2030. In a recent food trend study, Baum + Whiteman and Lyons Magnus projected that pistachios will be the top nut of 2023, and the nut does appear to be in everything from drinks and main meals to soaps and moisturizers.
Pandemic Popularity
Sales of Torani Pistachio Syrup are now 93% more than they were in 2022, according to Ramirez, who noted that the year is still halfway through. “This suggests that the pistachio industry is poised for a successful year. 35% of our pistachio sales went to consumer channels in 2022, while 65% went to the foodservice sector.
The main culprit, according to Amberly Wilson, head of nutrition research and communication at American Pistachio Growers, is the nut’s epidemic appeal as a snack food. “More people were consuming shelf-stable snacks and thinking more about how the foods we eat affect our overall health and the environment, which resulted in an increase in plant-based eating,” the study found.
The ‘Happy nut’s’ future
As the ‘happy nut’ is known in China, Diana Salsa, associate vice president of marketing at Wonderful Pistachios, said: “This has given us all some great trends to kick off 2023.” “We believe that awareness is a significant factor in why pistachios are currently experiencing a “moment”.”
Pistachios will continue to be popular, according to Salsa, especially as customers continue to seek better snack alternatives and lifestyles. They may be found in the froth of a cold brew or as the finishing touch on a charcuterie platter that will look good on social media. She said that their specialty is a pricey yet approachable dish suited to everything.
Wilson claimed that the green nut has a promising future. Pistachios are becoming more and more well-liked everywhere in the world. We still have a lot to learn about the unique health advantages of pistachios, but we’re optimistic that consumer interest is just getting warmed up.