Pistachios
The pistachio tree is native to western Asia and Asia Minor, from
Syria to the Caucasus and Afghanistan. Archaeological evidence in Turkey
indicates the nuts were being used for food as early as 7,000 B.C. The
pistachio was introduced to Italy from Syria early in the first century
A.D. Subsequently its cultivation spread to other Mediterranean
countries. The tree was first introduced into the United States in 1854
by Charles Mason, who distributed seed for experimental plantings in
California, Texas and some southern states. In 1875 a few small
pistachio trees, imported from France were planted in Sonoma, Calif. In
the early 1900′s the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture assembled a collection of
Pistacia species and pistachio nut varieties at the Plant Introduction
Station in Chico, Calif. 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, Pakistan and
elsewhere.
Pistachios are fund in California and the Southwest, especially
California’s central valley and southern California inland areas.