Pistachio Photographs

Pistachio trees are similar in size and shape to our apple trees, and grow in clusters, like grapes. The pistachio kernel is enclosed in a hard ivory shell, and as the nuts mature, nature causes the shell to split open. Legend has it that during this period, lovers met beneath the trees to listen to the sound of the nuts splitting open, which happens only on moonlit nights. Those lovers would then be blessed with abundance and happiness. Ancient history tells us that the pistachio originated in the lands of Persia (Iran), Assyria (Syria) and Lebanon, then spread over the rest of Asia. As legend goes, pistachios were the tidbits of the harem girls of Egypt and Syria. Pistachios were also served at wedding feasts with double portions going to the bride and groom. They were also the favored delicacy of the Queen of Sheba. It is said that during her reign over Assyria, she commanded the entire crop for her exclusive use and that of her royal guests, believing pistachios to be an aphrodisiac. The pistachio tree was first introduced into the United States in 1854 by Charles Mason, who experimented with plantings in California, Texas and some southern states. Twenty years later, a few small pistachio trees were imported from France and planted in Sonoma, California. In the early 1900's, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began experimental plantings in Chico, California, with a number of pistachio nut varieties. Commercial production of pistachio nuts began in the late 1970's and rapidly expanded to a major operation in the San Joaquin Valley. Other major pistachio producing areas are Iran and Turkey and to a lesser extent, Syria, India, Greece and Pakistan.