We’re talking, of course, about how the California pistachio industry is obsessed with maintaining a trade war with Iran, one of the world’s leading producers of the salty treat. Stewart and Lynda Resnick, the couple behind The Wonderful Company, one of California’s largest pistachio farms and producers of Fiji Water, have consistently lobbied for a trade war with Iran.

This pistachio-trade war is the subject of a forthcoming documentary from journalist Yasha Levine and filmmaker Roman Wernham. Pistachio Wars seeks to investigate how the Resnicks “have been responsible for both making the pistachio into a ubiquitous snack food in the U.S. while also eating away at Iran’s global marketshare,” per a profile in Bourse and Bazaar.

The Resnicks have mobilized the California pistachio industry, turning them into foot soldiers in the attempt to keep financial pressures on Iran; at the same time, The Wonderful Company has been one of the foremost figures in commodifying water, donating to specific political campaigns and figures that would support their business over the entire population of California. In the process, The Wonderful Company has undermined environmental protections while still maintaining a liberal image in the eye of the public through donations to presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren.

At the same time, The Wonderful Company are known supporters of three prominent Republican congressmen: David Valadao, Kevin McCarthy and Devin Nunes. All three have regrettable stances on the lightening of sanctions on Iran; Valadao is misguided enough to believe that decreased sanctions would strengthen Iran’s economy, which would somehow “make the Middle East even less stable and increase the likelihood of war in the region,” per Bourse and Bazaar, while Nunes modifies that logic to say that financial stability would “exploit the global economy to finance the growth of the …web of terrorism to every corner of the planet.” They both seem to have forgotten that the rise of global terrorism stands as a direct result of increased sanctions, financial instability and unnecessary U.S. involvement in political affairs.

Moreover, the Resnicks have donated to prominent think tanks and lobby groups that promote a more confrontational stance toward Iran, including the Washington Institute on Near East Policy, which notable held a conference calling for American support in an Iranian regime change. This is the language of interventionism and war.

Of course, it’s all about business and fostering economic growth for one of the world’s leading agricultural companies. Sanctions have proven to be massively beneficial to the Resnicks and other California pistachio farmers. Per Bourse and Bazaar’s profile, Levine asserts that “the U.S. pistachio industry as a whole is very aware that its success has been born out of the sanctions against Iran.”

In the end, the pistachio farmers come to represent the failures of late-stage capitalism. Using neo-liberal language and promoting a supposedly healthier snack, they’re pivotal figures in the destabilization of not only the Middle East, but also California’s environmental protections.

Source: pastemagazine.com

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It’s the bright-green nut that makes everything look cheerier. In some countries, it is also known as the ‘smiling’ or ‘happy’ nut – indeed, when the hard casing splits, it can look like a smiling face. But this is a nut that offers more than good looks. It’s a nutritional powerhouse, and even a world champion!

The English name pistachio is derived from “Pisteh”, which is a Persian name. Also known as the green almond. pistachio nuts are intertwined with Iranian culture and are actually present in all facets of Iranian life. pistachio nuts get a mention in all Iranian literature, stories, beliefs, traditions and rituals such as Norooz (New Iranian Year) and Yalda festival are even consumed in weddings and funerals.

This dry fruit can be cultivated in severe weather conditions such as coldest winters and hottest summers. the temperature can range from -15 degrees to 45 Celsius in summer  that’s why desert areas are suitable for growth.currently Iran tops the list with the high quality production of 472,097 metric tonnes. research has found that 60% of overall pistachio is used in ice creams and kulfi, also served in roasted in salted form of nuts. This dry fruit has several health benefits one of them is cholesterol reduction from human body.They contain antioxidant which are good for skin cells, largest amount of vitamin E is also present in seeds which has several advantages.

Why Iranian Pistachio?

currently Iran tops the list with the high quality production of 472,097 metric tonnes. Iranian pistachios offer various advantages that set them apart from competitors. Greater choice is offered to customers through four main commercial varieties. Additionally, higher meat content offers better value for money. Iranian pistachios have a world-famous taste that is unrivalled. This taste advantage is enhanced by roasting Iranian pistachios at higher temperatures, made possible by higher unsaturated oil content. This high temperature roasting eliminates any bacterial contamination, which may be present in raw product. The following list details the five major advantages of Iranian pistachios:

Variety 

There are many different varieties (cultivars) of Iranian pistachios. The following four go into international trade: Fandoghi (40% of pistachio orchards), Kalleh-Ghouchi (20%), Akbari (15%) and Ahmad-Aghaei (12%), with the last two on the rise. Each variety has its own differing properties and flavor.

Higher Kernel to In-Shell Ratio

  Iranian pistachios have a high kernel to in-shell ratio, meaning you are buying a higher amount of the edible kernels for the same amount of pistachios you buy.

Roastability 

 Due to their higher unsaturated oil content, Iranian pistachios have the capacity to be roasted at between 160 to 180°C (hot air stream temperature). Good roasting brings out the unique flavor of the nut, while eliminating any live bacteria from the roasted product. It is obvious that lower roasting temperatures of around 120°C recommended by some suppliers will not achieve the two above benefits.

Taste 

Over a long period, consumers around the world have shown a preference for the taste of Iranian pistachios. All four commercial varieties of Iranian pistachios each have a rich, unique and distinctive flavor. In this regard, Iranian pistachios offer a combination of unparalleled flavors which gives the consumer choice and variety.

Tradability

  The large number of producers, buyers, exporters and importers of Iranian pistachios makes for conditions of perfect competition in the market. As a result, fairer trading opportunities present themselves to those engaged in buying and selling Iranian pistachios. In the absence of conditions of perfect competition, the market may face price fixing and market manipulation by influential players.

American pistachio

currently United states is second of the list with the production of 231,000 metric tonnes. During the 1880s, imported pistachios were popular in the USA, especially with Middle Eastern immigrants. After many years of experimenting, the concept of the American pistachio industry was becoming a reality. Word of the new crop spread, and plantings emerged throughout California in the 1960s and later in Arizona and New Mexico. American pistachios are very similar to Iranian pistachios but with a little difference in quality and size and absolutely in price.

Turkish Pistachio

A Turkish pistachio is a variety of the pistachio nut, originating in Turkey and cultivated there and in other regions of the world. Turkey is a major producer of pistachios, ranking third in worldwide production after Iran and the United States. the Turkish pistachio nut is slightly smaller than other varieties. These pistachios are also known as Antep pistachios, after the the Turkish name for pistachio, which translates into English as “Antep nut”.

Siirt pistachios are grown in the Siirt province of Turkey, and are more rare than Anteps. They have a very distinct pistachio flavor and are larger than Antep pistachios, but smaller than the California variety.

The pistachios grown in the United States produce slightly larger nuts. A Turkish pistachio also tends to be a little harder to open than other varieties because the shell, which is more slender and elongated as well as very hard, does not open as much as other types do when dried and roasted.

The flavor of the Turkish pistachio is widely regarded as being superior to other varieties, except perhaps the Iranian pistachio, and are significantly more expensive than the larger varieties grown in the United States. It is the sweetest and most robustly flavored of all pistachio varieties, a characteristic which is enhanced by roasting.

Safe Pistachio Storage

Pistachios should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. When stored at room temperature, the nuts will last a few weeks. When stored in the refrigerator, they can last for months and may even keep for a full year if stored in the freezer.

why Origiran?

Many reasons to buy Pistachio from OrigIran may make you bored. So we will only provide a very brief explanation of the philosophy of OrigIran:
The philosophy of OrigIran is customer friendly behavior. OrigIran only thinks about quality and here we have the same sensitivities for our family and friends for others too because you are our friends by referring to us!

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There is no doubt that  Iranian pistachio has the best taste and maximum nutrition.  The special climate of Kerman province is the only best place for growing pistachios.

Iranian pistachios offer various advantages that set them apart from other types of pistachio in the world. Higher meat content offers better value for money. Iranian pistachios have a world-famous taste that is unrivalled.
This taste advantage is enhanced by roasting Iranian pistachios at higher temperatures, made possible by higher unsaturated oil content. This high temperature roasting eliminates any bacterial contamination, which may be present in raw product.

There are tens of varieties of pistachios developed by curious Iranian farmers, on a small scale. Every decade or two one of these varieties has been developed and has been seen as advantageous in certain aspects, so it has been taken up by other farmers. Some of these varieties have endured enough to become stable commercial varieties.

In general, all commercial varieties of Iranian pistachios fall into two categories by shape: round and long. A pistachio type is called long if the ratio of the length to the greatest diameter is more than 1.5, otherwise, it is called round. The original wild Pistacia vera trees produced nuts of the long type. The first round variety was developed by a farmer from Rafsanjan named Mr. Ohadi some 70 years ago. Some earlier commercial varieties, such as Sefid Peste and Momtaz, have gone out of fashion and are not budded anymore.
Today, there are four different commercial varieties of pistachios cultivated in Iran, which have differing characteristics and properties as listed below:

Fandoghi Pistachio:

This cultivar is the most widely available pistachio variety and grows in most pistachio growing areas of Iran. Fandoghi is of round type and has the lowest shape index among the four cultivars. It comes in the following sizes 28/30, 30/32 and 32/34 nuts per ounce. Size 26/28 is also available in small quantity.

Kalleh Ghouchi Pistachio (Jumbo):

This type of pistachio tree has a good yield and the nuts are of round type. Sizes are 20/22, 22/24 and 24/26, with 18/20 being available in small quantities.

Akbari Pistachio:

This is a newer variety with good yield and with long, large nuts (sizes: 20/22, 22-24 and 24/26, with 18/20 also available in small quantities). It has the highest shape index (longest). Its the most easy-to-open pistachio variety among the four.

Ahmad Aghaei Pistachio:

The newest commercial variety, very popular with the farmers, because of high yield and its shorter time to reach production. It is very popular in some markets like India and Greece. Production of this variety is increasing. The appearance of Ahmad Aghaei pistachio resembles the Kerman variety of US pistachios. It also has the whitest shell hue among the four. Ahmad Aghaei is a long pistachio type, with the shape index just falling above 1.5. It comes in sizes 22/24, 24/26, 26/28 and 28/30, with 20/22 being available in small quantities.

conclusion:

On the whole Kalleh Ghouchi is not being budded anymore and production is from existing trees. Although commercially quite successful, Kalleh Ghouchi trees showed a steep drop in growth and production as they grew older than 40 years old. It is expected that the production would slowly decline.
At present, probably around 50% of Iranian production is of the Fandoghi type. Due to its limited yield, the new orchards are seldom planted with this variety. It is expected that the production will stabilize at present levels. Kalleh Ghouchi is on the decline being replaced by Ahmad Aghaei. Newer orchards are being budded with Ahmad Aghaei or Akbari varieties. In the future, more of these two varieties are expected to be available in the market.

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