Where Do Pistachios Come From? — Smoothie Life Apothecary

It can be extremely enlightening to discover the reality of the foods we consume. Taking a moment to think about where your food came from is in itself an act of gratitude.

First cultivated in Central Asia and the middle east, pistachio trees are now grown in California, the Mediterranean coast as well as Australia for commercial use.

The trees are harvested once a year, usually around August/September with the exception of Australia where they are harvested in February due to the difference in seasons. Each tree will take up to 5 years before producing it’s first crop but can go on to bear pistachios each year for about 100yrs. Referred to by farmers and industry as Pistachio kernels or pistachio meats, the green pistachio seeds are housed inside a hard shell which is then covered by a softer pod-like covering(also known as the Epicarp) altogether referred to as the pistachio fruit(pictured). They grow in bunches, starting out green then turning maroon when ripe or ready for harvesting.

The pistachios go through a 4 step process of picking, sorting and packing all within a 24hr period to ensure freshness.