Special edition: Nuts, pulses and legumes

Doubling of pistachio harvest will increase nut’s use as an ingredient

By Stephen DANIELLS

- Last updated on GMT

Doubling of pistachio harvest will increase nut’s use as an ingredient
Pistachios – most associated with snacking in the consumer’s mind – could be finding their way into many a food product as an ingredient over the next few years, says the executive director of the American Pistachio Growers, as production is set to double by 2020.

“Pistachios have had limited use as an ingredient, because there has not been a consistent supply for formulators to consider pistachios as an ingredient,” ​said Richard Matoian from the American Pistachio Growers’.

“We have tracked new product introductions with pistachios as an ingredient, and they have increased, and we expect that to continue,"​ he added. "The growers are going to have larger crops and they are going to need to find more uses of the product, whether that’s as a paste, flavor, or other type of ingredient."

Indeed, the production of pistachios has already increased dramatically over the last nine years, he said. “Since 2005, there has been a tremendous increase in the amount of new acres for pistachios,” ​he said, with 99% of this production in the state of California.

Double

“Somewhere around 2020 we should have a harvest of one billion pounds,”​ said Matoian. “Presently we have 475 million pounds so we’ll double production in 6 years.”

Pistachios are grown in the same area and soil as almonds, he explained, and growers are not shifting from almonds to pistachios, but adding additional ground is being planted with pistachios.

The farm gate value, calculated by the number of pounds produced multiplied by the price paid by the processors, was $1.2 billion last year, he said. While it’s difficult to predict how commodity prices will increase over time, Matoian said that the relatively stable price of tree nuts over recent years gives him some confidence that the farm gate value will probably double as production doubles.

Innovation

Matoian said that pistachios as an ingredient are already available today, “but we don’t see them very much”.​ The innovation has always been there, he added, but demand hasn’t with the price also seen as a factor.

There have been some high-profile pistachio foods in the market, although the best performers have been in niche markets. One mass example is when Frito Lay owned the True North healthy snack brand, and it offered a pistachio chip product. FritoLay subsequently sold True North to DeMet’s Candy, which recently sold the brand to B&G Foods. The pistachio chip product is no longer offered in the True North range.

Looking at almonds, Matoian said that some research had been done with a local university into the potential of pistachio milk. “It can be done,”​ he said, “but the price point was such that it wouldn’t attract consumers.”

So what can we expect? “Time will tell on a lot of things,”​ he said. “With a larger crop and more stability in the price, we’ll see more pistachio products.”

Changing the conversation

Looking closely at pistachios in comparison with almonds and walnuts and they have similar properties from a nutrient and health perspective, he said, but the message hasn’t filtered through to the mainstream consumer. “Ask a consumer about almonds and they say they’re heart healthy; ask them about walnuts and they’ll say they have omega-3 fatty acids. Ask a consumer about pistachios and you don’t get much out of them.”

“We’re good in fiber. We’re good in protein. We’re good in vitamin B6 and potassium. Pistachios excel in a number of areas.”

The message is changing, said Matoian, although it is not an overnight change. “Consumers are beginning to recognize the health benefits of pistachios.”

“This is where our focus is as an organization,”​ said Matoian, “to show consumers that pistachios are not just an indulgent snack but also a healthy one.”

Related news

Related products

show more

Sweeten Your Treats with Sustainable Syrups

Sweeten Your Treats with Sustainable Syrups

Content provided by Green Plains Inc. | 03-Oct-2024 | Insight Guide

Elevate your products with Green Plains’ premium, low carbon-intensity corn syrups. Drop-in replacements with an up to 40% lower carbon footprint than...

Breakthrough ingredients for better-for-you bread

Breakthrough ingredients for better-for-you bread

Content provided by ADM | 03-Oct-2024 | White Paper

Our new flour blend is a carefully curated blend of clinically studied ingredients to help you create better-for-you bread that tastes great to help you...

Leveraging the Power of Enzymes to Maximize Value

Leveraging the Power of Enzymes to Maximize Value

Content provided by IFF | 18-Sep-2024 | Application Note

In today’s dynamic bakery industry, excelling requires more than just great taste. With tightening budgets and rising expectations, manufacturers must...

Improve texture, volume & appearance with Corbion

Improve texture, volume & appearance with Corbion

Content provided by Corbion | 02-Sep-2024 | White Paper

Consumers think twice about products that vary in quality. Delivering superior experiences consistently is the best way to keep consumers satisfied and...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars