October 2013 American Pistachio Growers eNews

Mark Cavendish, Pro Cyclist, Joins APG Ambassador Team Recent Studies Show Pistachios Promote Heart Health, Weight Control and Healthy Pregnancies

ŠTDWsport.com

American Pistachios Featured in Leading Publications in Italy, the U.K. and China APG Meets with Vietnamese Government Officials APG 2014 Annual Conference

In celebration of National Nut Day, October 22, American Pistachio Growers announced the addition of British pro cyclist Mark Cavendish MBE* to its world-class athletic ambassador team. Cavendish, who has 25 stage wins at Le Tour de France and is regarded as one of pro cycling’s top sprinters, is an outspoken proponent of healthy lifestyles and cycling for everyday well-being. He’s also a believer in proper nutrition for optimal performance, whether for athletic gains or everyday life. This focus on health and nutrition led him to American pistachios, which are a nutritious addition to a well-balanced diet, particularly for those who participate in active lifestyles.

“I’m proud to support America’s pistachio farmers in this educational campaign and to add my voice to the growing group of advocates who encourage people to exercise and be mindful of what they eat,” said Cavendish. “The fact that I eat pistachios because I love them and because they’re recommended by my nutritionist makes it easy for me to say they’re my Official Snack.”

Cavendish’s nutritionist, Nigel Mitchell, who is also the nutritionist for the British National Cycling Team, prescribes American-grown pistachios as part of a cyclist’s diet. He is a strong advocate for whole foods as fuel for athletic performance.

“Mark needs a high-protein diet and requires certain nutrients throughout each day and before and after races,” said Mitchell. “He trains five hours a day and is one of the fastest sprinters alive. His body is in a constant state of exertion and recovery. Pistachios fill a nutritional need and just as important, they’re a convenient, delicious snack that he likes to eat.” *MBE: “Member of the Order of the British Empire,” a British national order of chivalry. ©TDWsport.com

Nigel Mitchell, one of the most respected experts in the practical application of sports nutrition, will be an educational ambassador for American Pistachio Growers. He has a practical approach to proper nutrition through whole foods for active lifestyles, including nutritious pistachios grown in the American west.

He has been supporting the nutrition goals of elite athletes for twenty years. Nigel is the head of nutritional services to British Cycling and the British Professional Cycling Team ‘Sky Pro Cycling’. In 2012 he provided nutritional support for the historical Bradley Wiggins Tour de France Win and for British Cycling at the 2012 London Olympiad. His role involves leading and providing specialized nutritional services to a variety of world class athletes and sportspeople.

Nigel qualified as a registered dietician in 1991 and since then has worked in a variety of clinical sports roles. He recognizes and values the contribution that innovation and research provides to sports nutrition and is currently involved in partnerships with universities on academic projects that have included projects with Portsmouth University where he holds the honorary position of Senior Lecturer. He has worked with a wide variety of sports/athletes including winter Olympic athletes.

He specializes in performance-focused diets to help people realize their greatest capabilities, whether they be gold medals or just top condition.

Based on the results of four recent medical studies, health-wise consumers may want to say yes to American pistachios and include a handful in their daily diet. The studies show eating nuts, such as pistachios, has been associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes and heart disease, lower body weight and better outcomes during pregnancy. In May, APG released a statement announcing the study’s results. Since then the release has reached more than 15 million consumers around the world.

A whopping 2.7 million tons of tree nuts were produced last year, and more Americans embraced nuts as a recipe ingredient, a meal component and a snack--and for good reason. Not only are nuts delicious and convenient, but the rise in their consumption has been associated with a variety of health benefits, including heart health and weight management. In the United States, in anticipation of National Nut Day, October 22, APG circulated an article highlighting pistachios’ range of health benefits, and also citing the added perk of more nuts per serving than any other tree nut. The article garnered extensive coverage, reaching over 59 million consumers.

PR News celebrated the winners and honorable mentions of its 2013 Platinum PR Awards at the Grand Hyatt in New York City on October 15, 2013. APG’s “Power of Pistachios” campaign was awarded Honorable Mention in the Global Relations Campaign, and Multicultural Campaign categories.

The Platinum PR Awards salute the year’s most outstanding communications initiatives and programs in the highly competitive and dynamic public relations arena. The coveted awards set the industry benchmark for excellence across all areas of public relations.

D La Repubblica delle Donne and L’Espresso, Italy’s prominent weekly news magazines, featured the pistachio culinary creations of APG’s Italian Chef Ambassador Omar Allievi. His gourmet recipes highlighted the versatility of pistachios from everyday healthy eating to fine dining.

American pistachios, their nutritional properties and health benefits were highlighted in an interview with APG’s Italian Nutrition Ambassador Giorgio Donegani. A nutritional expert, Giorgio Donegani is Italy’s President of Food Education.

In London, APG released an info-graphic highlighting the nutritional breakdown of pistachios. The simple yet powerful graphic communicated the benefits of pistachios for health and weight-conscious consumers.

Articles such as “Pistachios in a Fast Day Diet,” “Going Nuts for a Healthy Heart,” and “Ditch the Naughty Snacks for Nuts” appeared in many of London’s popular health and fitness publications.

To complement the educational press release campaign in China, APG placed advertisements in the country’s leading fitness publications highlighting the nutritional benefits for men and athletes.

More than 48,000 APG sample packs were distributed in the Berlin marathon’s goody bags, and on guest room pillows at the Hotel Berlin during the weekend of the event. The four start hotel joined forces with APG to raise awareness of the powerful benefits of pistachios for active lifestyles.

Yield: 4 Servings

Method:

Ingredients: Arugula Salad 4 cups arugula 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 grapefruits, whole 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, thinly shaved 2 carrots, medium-sized, thinly sliced 4 red radishes, thinly sliced ½ cup pistachio kernels, roasted Black pepper, cracked Sea salt, finishing

Poached Scottish Salmon 6 ounces Scottish salmon Poaching Sauce ½ cup onion, 1” diced ½ cup carrot, 1” diced 1 cup dry white wine 2 cups water 1 bay leaf 1 lemon, unpeeled, sliced

Presentation: On a plate, place Poached Scottish Salmon and Arugula salad. Sprinkle pistachios with shaved Parmesan cheese. Finish with sea salt, cracked black pepper.

Poached Scottish Salmon Place the wine, water, bay leaf, and sliced lemon into a pot and bring to a simmer. Add the salmon and simmer over a low heat until the fish is just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Set aside.

Arugula Salad In a bowl, add Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, whisking in olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper. In another bowl, add arugula, sliced carrot, sliced radish, grapefruit segments, red wine vinegar, and toss to order.

Make plans now to attend the seventh Annual Conference presented by American Pistachio Growers.

This year’s event will be held at the stunning Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California (across the Coronado Bridge from downtown San Diego) on Monday, February 17 through Wednesday, February 19. We’ll have a packed program filled with guest speakers, educational opportunities and loads of time for the social interaction that makes our event the most talked-about pistachio gathering of the year.

Members receive substantial discounts, so mark your calendar and sign up now to attend using the links below. Feel free to call the APG office at (559) 475-0435 with any questions or for more information on PAC events or sponsorship of the conference.

The delegation of California’s Department of Agriculture, which included California’s Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, traveled to Vietnam. APG Executive Director Richard Matoian, also a part of the delegation, met with the Vietnamese government officials regarding passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. The partnership would lower the tariff on raw pistachios in Vietnam from its current 25 percent to zero. Official government meetings were held with representatives from the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. All parties agreed that passage of TPP would benefit both countries.

Executive Director Matoian also met with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, David Shear and other representatives of the U.S. Embassy to underscore the need for passage of TPP to benefit the U.S. pistachio industry. While total figures of pistachio shipments to Vietnam represent just over 200,000 pounds, there is great potential in a country that is approximately one-third the size of the United States and whose middle-class population is growing rapidly.

In the photo above, standing next to Richard Matoian (green tie) is Nguyen Cam Tu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade; Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture; Claire Pierangelo, U.S. Embassy; Mark Dries, Counselor for Agriculture Affairs, USDA; and Francis Lee, Vietnam Representative for United Base Company Limited.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) launched an innovative ecosystem services database.

Ecosystem services are defined as the multiple benefits gained from farming and ranching, including crop and livestock production. Many of these benefits extend into environmental stewardship and conservation. Increased nutrient cycling and storage, soil enrichment, water conservation and support for pollinating insects are some of the benefits of renewable energy use and production. A more comprehensive list of ecosystem service benefits in agriculture can be found at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/EnvironmentalStewardship/ EcosystemServices.html.

The database, containing nearly 400 farms and ranches, can be queried by key word, county, crop type, and type of ecosystem service. The purpose of the database is twofold: help CDFA discuss the multiple benefits provided

by California agriculture and assist growers, ranchers, and stakeholders who want to learn more about ecosystem services. Be sure take to add your farm’s name to the growing list of entities that conduct environmental stewardship and conservation programs.

For more information the ecosystem database is available at http://apps.cdfa.ca.gov/EcosystemServices.

APG is now a sponsor of Valley Public Broadcasting Station’s (PBS), Valley’s Gold, a weekly series that presents a behind-the-scenes look at the agricultural economic engine that drives the Central Valley. Topics in the first 13 episodes will include grapes, peaches, tomatoes, figs, almonds, pistachios, cotton and more. Viewers will learn about and experience a close-up look at every aspect of the journey crops and commodities take from field to fork across the San Joaquin Valley from Merced to Kern counties. Each show is comprised of several segments that demonstrate how crops are planted, tended, harvested and processed.

The show airs on Wednesday night at 7 pm, and is re-broadcast each weekend on Saturday at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 10:30 am. On October 23, pistachios, almonds and walnuts were highlighted with APG member Miya Farms in Hanford discussing the growing and harvesting of pistachios. To watch the segment on nuts click here.