| | |
| | 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 Pistachio 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.
|
| | |
