August 2015 American Pistachio Growers eNews

AUGUST 2015

APG Ambassador Miss California 2015 Bree Morse,

recently crowned in June, was introduced at APG’s annual membership luncheon.

IN THIS ISSUE: Annual Membership Luncheon LeadOn Pistachio Production Field Trip APG Ambassadors Make History American Pistachio Recipe Hacks APG Around the World in China, Japan and South Korea Bob Beede’s September/October Pistachio Task List Meet Our Growers – The Munger Family

APG Annual Memb At this year’s membership luncheon, APG staff members welcomed guests with informational booths about APG’s marketing and membership programs.

Guests learned firsthand about pistachio nutrition research, APG’s Leadership program LeadOn, social media and APG membership activities.

Specially branded luncheon t-shirts were sold in the APG store.

After the luncheon, APG ambassadors were available for autographs and photographs.

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bership Luncheon

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APG Chairman Thom Dille kicked off the luncheon with a warm welcome to all. APG Executive Director Richard Matoian and Vice President of Global Marketing Judy Hirigoyen provided updates on the pistachio industry and APG’s marketing initiatives.

Haiying Zhang, Director of Asia Markets and Roger Zhang of APG China spoke about our marketing programs in China. APG ambassador Miss California 2015 Bree Morse who was recently crowned in June, was introduced.

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Guest speakers included APG’s newest ambassador, Cheryl Forberg, RD, a New York Times best-selling author, James Beard Award-winner, and professional chef and nutritionist for NBC’s hit show The Biggest Loser, and Sonya Jones, a former Biggest Loser contestant who lost an incredible 144 pounds during the show’s 16th season, losing the title by less than one pound.

Read more …

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APG’s LeadOn Pistachio Production Field Trip Students of APG’s Leadership Program LeadON, got an up-close education on pistachio production with a tour through a pistachio nursery and processing plant. The class started at Pioneer Nursery where Brian Blackwell spoke about the different varieties of pistachios. The students also saw examples of their various growth stages from seed to plant. Then the class took a tour through Horizon Nut Growers processing plant where they learned about the different stages of pistachio production – from sorting to roasting.

For more information about APG’s leadership program, contact Dianna Short at info@AmericanPistachios.org, or visit AmericanPistachios.org and log in into the membership portal.

APG Ambassadors Make History at FINA World Championship The United States of America became the first team in history to hold Olympic, World Championship, World Cup and World League crowns at the same time when the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team beat The Netherlands 5-4 in the gold-medal final on Friday, August 7. The U.S. is the first nation to hold all four crowns simultaneously since women’s water polo was added to the Olympic program in 2000.

Read more...

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American Pistachio Recipes Hacks APG nutrition spokesperson, Sharon Palmer, RDN, also known as “The Plant-Powered Dietitian,� has found new and creative ways to use pistachios in some popular dishes.

Her hacked recipes include: Pistachio Butter, Pistachio Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal, Rosemary Roasted Pistachios, Light Pistachio Hummus, and a Green Pistachio Smoothie. The recipes and a short video of Sharon creating these dishes can be viewed by clicking here.

Wellness-CV Newsletter As a post-exercise snack, pistachios are portable, satisfying and supply the body with some of the energy and important nutrients it needs to refuel. In the summer issue of the Wellness-CV newsletter, American pistachios were featured in an article about how they can help meet the post-exercise needs of casual fitness enthusiasts and athletes. Over 7,200 Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) members receive this quarterly educational newsletter.

The e-newsletter focuses on articles pertaining to wellness and cardiovascular health and nutrition trends.

Wellness/CV is a subunit of SCAN, a dietary practice group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The group focuses on cardiovascular and wellness nutrition by educating dietetics professionals and the public about wellness and cardiovascular health through resources such as newsletters and networking opportunities.

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APG and China’s Betty’s Baking Hosts Baking Workshops

The baking industry is booming in China. Large industrial manufacturers, high-end large bakery chains, retail outlets and luxury hotels are making fancy baked products to satisfy the demand from middle- to high-income urban families and the well-educated young generation for high-quality food. One of the many ways APG is taking advantage of the opportunity is with baking classes held at China’s popular Betty’s Baking workshop in Shanghai. Read more...

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American Food Promotion in China In China, APG participated in the American Food Promotion in Chengdu. The event was sponsored by Chengdu Agriculture Trade Office (ATO) and Kuaijiankang (Health Direct).

Known for their one-hour delivery and traceability, Kuaijiankang is an internet retailer specializing in delivering organic/health food from both local farms and foreign countries to consumers in Chengdu via the WeChat store and its mobile application. Read more...

National Nut Day in Japan APG participated in the U.S. Agriculture Trade Office’s American Nuts Café event held in celebration of Japan’s National Nut Day on July 22. The event took place at Japan’s popular Café Studio and featured American nuts, including pistachios, and dried fruits. The event attracted over 800 consumers and bloggers as well as trader members. American pistachios were featured in baked goods and as a snack.

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South Korea’s Popular Cooking Show Spotlights American Pistachios Ddook Ddak Today’s Cook is a popular cooking show in South Korea. Hosted by Bo-eun Lee, a popular culinary consultant and chef, every episode features a guest celebrity who assists in preparing and

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eating delicious and nutritious dishes.

American pistachios were spotlighted in two-episodes that aired May 12 and 29.

Read more...

APG and Ashley TOGO National Promotion with American Pistachios in South Korea American Pistachio Growers joined forces with Ashley TOGO in Korea with a summer salad promotion featuring American pistachios. The promotion was supported with point-of-purchase materials branded with our APG logo and nutrition messaging, and included three new salad recipes: Pistachio Sweet Pumpkin Salad, Pistachio Salad with Citrus, and Pistachio Sweet Potato Salad.

The promotion ran from July 1–31, 2015 in all of Ashley TOGO stores across Korea.

Ashley is Korea’s leading family restaurant chain, with 153 stores throughout Korea, and offers a variety of American-style food with a Korean twist. Ashley TOGO is the chain’s take-out brand with 20 stores nationwide. Read more...

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PISTACHIO PRODUCTION September/October Pistachio Task List

By Bob Beede, U.C. Farm Advisor, Emeritus Harvest: I think nut maturity is about the same as last year. Chris Wiley, Agri-World Ranch manager, and veteran of over 35 harvests, called the other day lamenting the loss of a “normal” harvest year. Like a fine wine, he reminisced about the “harvest of ‘98,” when a single five-second shake rained all the nuts onto the catch frames with great quality.

The observations of Chris and many others suggest that this harvest is NOT going to be a vintage year. Individual trees vary greatly in maturity within a given orchard, and the percent-fill will not be known until the first grade sheets are available. If you have been out cutting clusters, you at least have some idea what to expect. Those who have not are going to be asking to recheck the bills of laden, thinking that several loads never made it to the processor.

Based on what I have observed, Golden Hills has better set and fill than Kerman, which suggests that this cultivar is not only 14 days earlier than Kerman, but that it also has a lower chilling requirement.

Read More …

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Meet Our Growers –

THE MUNGER FAMILY The Mungers’ first years in America were not easy. The family survived by working together, parents and children, doing manual labor for local farmers in Northern California. After five years, in 1971, they were able to purchase their first 70 acres of peaches and walnuts.

Watermelons were planted between the trees,

investigation and several trips to the San Joaquin Valley they were confident enough to outbid all others to purchase one of the best pistachio plantings in the Lost Hills area. Within two years, they purchased additional ranches in both Kern and Tulare counties.

and David and Kable learned the produce business by selling watermelons from the back of a truck. At a very young age the two brothers were taught by their father to know their costs, evaluate risks, and work hard to achieve results.

And so when in 1980, Kable first heard about a new crop called pistachios, he was instantly interested.

“Our family has been blessed. Our perseverance and achievement in the farming community has allowed us the wonderful opportunity to give back to those less fortunate,” says Kamie Munger. And given back they have. Starting in 1988, with the mission of providing free medical care to the indigent, the Munger family built a hospital in Punjab, India. They also helped fund five additional medical hospitals, a spinal cord injury hospital, and a leprosy community in the area. Read more …

He shared his discovery with his father and brother who also saw the potential. After careful

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APG Member News Primex Farms Wins the Dried Fruit Association’s Plant of the Year Award The Dried Fruit Association (DFA) has recognized APG member Primex Farms for their commitment to food safety, with the 2015 Pinnacle Club Plant of the Year Award. Primex Farms, Inc. is being recognized for their best food safety practices, execution of industryleading food safety policies companywide, and serving as an exemplary role model for others to follow. Read more...

APG Member Jim Zion Appointed to Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee Jim Zion was recently appointed to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables as a representative of Meridian Growers, LLC. The Fruits and Vegetables ATAC provides technical advice on U.S. agricultural trade issues to the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative (U.S.T.R.).

This Committee plays a critical role in the development of trade policy, providing advice on negotiating objectives and strategies and on other matters related to the development and administration of U.S. agricultural trade policy.

Read more ‌

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APG Member News OPINION The opinions of APG members Ted Sheely and Larry Easterling were recently featured in national and local publications. To learn more about what they have to say click on the links below.

“California Farmers Aren’t the Water Hogs,”

by Ted Sheely APG member Ted Sheely, volunteers as a board member of The Truth about Trade and Technology, a farming-advocacy nonprofit.

Click here to read the complete article published in the Wall Street Journal.

“A Call for Common Sense Water Management,”

by Larry Easterling Larry Easterling, is an administrator of Kettleman Pistachio Growers, and a member of APG’s Board of Directors.

Click here to read the complete article published in several publications including California AG Today.

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