Pistachios

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Cities Developing Urban Agriculture Codes

Urban agriculture has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to deal with vacant properties, revitalize neighborhoods, and provide job skills and nutrition to local residents struggling with poverty and a lack of access to fresh produce.

In Austin, Texas, a working group of the Sustainable Food Policy Board is meeting to clarify and update city code related to urban farms, livestock, size of farm, employees and dwellings, according to the Austin Chronicle.

The working group has been holding public sessions to gather input from urban farmers and community members about pending updates to the urban farm ordinance.

In April 2013, the Flint Farmers' Market reported that the Detroit City Council adopted the city's first urban agriculture zoning ordinance recognizing agriculture as a legitimate land use and setting standards for it.

Other cities working to update or create urban agriculture codes include Boston, Massachusetts;
Fort Collins, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon.

For more information, see USDA's National Ag Library webpage on Urban Agriculture.

Home » Commodities & Products » Nuts » Pistachios

Overview

Approximately 98 percent of U.S. pistachios are produced in California. Other states raising pistachios include Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.

The U.S. pistachio crop in 2011 was valued at $879.1 million, down 24 percent from 2010. Total production also declined to 444 million pounds, 15 percent less than the previous year. NASS (2012) reported a yield of 2,900 pounds per acre, compared to 3,810 pounds during the previous year. September 2012 ... Pistachios

Marketing

Administrative Committee for Pistachios.
California Pistachio Research Board.
California Pistachios, Marketing Order 983, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA.
California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) - This nonprofit educational organization represents the world’s fruit growers. Membership includes nationally recognized botanical gardens and noted international horticultural researchers, as well as hobbyists, commercial growers and representatives from institutions of higher learning.
Demand Enhancement through Food Safety Regulation: A Case Study of the Marketing Order for California Pistachios, Chapter 14 in H. Kaiser, J. Alston, J. Crespi and R. Sexton (eds), Commodity Promotion Programs in California: Economic Evaluation and Legal Issues, 2004 - This study discusses the economic rational for an industry's collective action and presents the federal marketing order for California pistachio as an example.
Fruit and Tree Nuts, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA.
Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook, ERS, USDA, 2012.
Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), Foreign Ag Service (FAS), USDA.
Industry Initiated Regulation and Food Safety: the New Federal Marketing Order for Pistachios, ARE Update, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2005.
Industry-Mandated Testing to Improve Food Safety: the New U.S. Marketing Order for Pistachios, German Journal of Agricultural Economics (Special Issue on Food Quality, Incomplete Consumer Information and the Role of Markets and the State), 2004 - This study investigates the federal marketing order and outlines how collective action in the form of a marketing order can serve as a useful tool to ensure a safe food product and increase benefits to producers and consumers.
International Tree Nut Council (INC) - The INC's mission is to endorse activities that provide its membership new opportunities for increasing global consumption of almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts.
Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts, National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS), USDA, 2012.
Northern Nut Growers Association, Inc. (NNGA) - Brings together people interested in growing nut trees. Members include experts in nut tree cultivation, nut growers, nut tree breeders, nursery people and foresters.
Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association
Pistachio Nut: A Background, Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook, ERS, USDA, 2011.
Tree Nuts/Pistachios: World Markets and Trade, FAS, USDA, 2012.
Western Pistachio Association

Production

Good Agricultural Practices Manual, Administrative Committee for Pistachio, 2006.
Pistachio, Integrated Pest Management guidelines, University of California, Davis.
Pistachio Short Course 2008, Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center, University of California Cooperative Extension.
Sample Costs to Establish and Produce Pistachios: San Joaquin Valley - South, University of California Cooperative Extension, 2008 - The sample costs for establishment of a pistachio orchard and production of pistachios in the San Joaquin Valley are presented in this study.

Processing/Manufacturing

Almond Hullers and Processors Association
Postharvest Pistachio Information: Summary Checklist for Harvesting Pistachios, Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center, University of California, Davis.
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Standard DF-09, 2004 - Concerns the marketing and commercial quality control of unshelled pistachio nuts moving in international trade between and to UNECE member countries.
The United States Standards for Grades of Pistachio Nuts in the Shell, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, 1997.

Businesses/Case Studies

Erick Nielsen Enterprises, Inc., Orland, California - This family-owned and -operated agribusiness group specializes in orchard services, providing mechanical pruning and prune and pistachio harvesting to growers since 1972. Includes a photo gallery of specialized pistachio harvesting equipment.
Paramount Farms Inc., Lost Hills, California - This is a technology intensive pistachio and almond operation in the San Joaquin Valley.
Rich Fields Pistachios, Davis, California - Rich Fields Farm is a small farm that has research and educational (agritourism), as well as commercial functions. Example of a small diversified organic producer.

Links checked September 2012.

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