June 2013 APG eNews

International Dried Fruit & Nut Conference Kern County Nut Festival 2013 Central California Farm Grown Farm Forums – Complimentary Tickets Available to APG Members APG Open House AF36 2013 Pistachio Season Program in Place Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Update

APG participated in the International Dried Fruit and Nut Conference in Barcelona, Spain on May 21-23. The 30th Anniversary World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress welcomed 1,100 participants from 58 countries.

Professionals from around the globe met colleagues, exchanged views, and strengthened commercial relations.

American Pistachio Growers hosted a Customer Appreciation dinner party during the conference at the Bestial Restaurant in Barcelona. Live flamenco music and dancing entertained the guests, and an official Barcelona football jersey was the grand prize for playing the APG quiz.

APG showcased pistachios at the Kern County Nut Festival held June 15, where APG’s mascot American Pistachio welcomed booth visitors. The community-wide festival offered many culinary treats, and APG’s beauty, health and fitness Ambassador Miss California made a personal appearance to educate consumers on the nutritional benefits of American pistachios.

An interview with APG’s Jeff Gibbons, of Setton Farms, and Miss California appeared online as well as on the Bakersfield TV station, ABC 23.

Click here to read the story and watch the video.

The Kern County Nut Festival, held at the Kern County Museum, was sponsored by the Kern County Museum Foundation.

er to maintain energy Intense exercise stresses the body. In ord overall health, athletes have production, speed recovery, and ensure higher nutrient needs, including: and growth • Protein, to aid in muscle repair, recovery ucing reactions • B vitamins, to power the body’s energy-prod oxidative stress and inflammation • Antioxidants, which play a role in lowering immune system • Appetite control, which may help boost the • Healthy fats, to meet energy needs and help replace muscle energy stores • Fiber for healthy digestion and blood sugar

With high levels of these nutrients, pistachios are the ideal pre- and post-workout food: • 6 grams of protein • 15% recommended Daily Value of Vitamins B1 and B6 • 3 grams of fiber • 12.5 grams of healthy fat • More antioxidant power and phytosterols than almost any other snack food

Yield: 4 servings Ingredients:

2 pounds Australian beef short ribs 2 cups pistachios (roasted), finely chopped 4 ounces onion 2 ounces celery 2 ounces carrot 5 sprigs thyme 3 pieces garlic 2 ounces beef stock Salt and black pepper to taste Method: Preheat oven to 360 degrees fahrenheit. Wash and clean onion, celery and carrot. Cut them into medium dice sizes.

Season beef short ribs with salt and pepper. Place beef short ribs, onion, celery, carrot, garlic and thyme in a large, deep skillet. Add beef stock until ingredients are half submerged.

Cover with cooking foil, put it in the oven and cook 2 hours and 30 minutes, checking occasionally. Strain and save the natural jus.

Presentation: Crust beef short ribs with finely chopped pistachios. In a plate, place pistachio-crusted beef short ribs and braised root vegetables. Finish with natural jus.

Central California Farm Grown Farm Forums The Fresno Grizzlies are hosting a series of Farm Forums.

As a participating partner, APG members are welcome to attend these forums, hosted in the CRU Club, and stay for the Grizzlies baseball game at no charge.

The events will give those involved in the agricultural industry, as well as those interested in agriculture, an opportunity to interact with representatives from government, business, nonprofits, education, and health and wellness. Tickets are available by calling the APG office at 559.475.0435 or by emailing info@AmericanPistachios.org.

Upcoming Farm Forums You Don’t Want to Miss!

July 5: Legislative Policies Affecting Farms & Water Jim Costa (Representative, California’s 16th District) Dave Orth (Kings River Conservation District) Casey Creamer (President, Cotton Association) Gary Serrato (General Manager, Fresno Irrigation District)

July 19: Produce Safety – “How Safe is Our Food Supply?”

Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli (Executive Director, UC Davis Center for Produce Safety)

August 2: Ag and the High-Speed Rail – “Can We Have Both?”

Doug Verboon, Kings County Board of Supervisors Ryan Jacobsen, Fresno County Farm Bureau Madera County Farm Bureau High Speed Rail Authority

American Pistachio Growers’ members were invited to check out their new Fresno headquarters May 7 at an Open House. Thanks to the support of our membership, our organization has grown along with the industry and now is housed in a functional workplace that is the hub of program activities and creative energy. It was a pleasant evening filled with tours, refreshments and a shared sense of pride in how far APG has come in a few short years.

AF36 is an exciting new development in the commitment of the California pistachio industry to minimize the presence of aflatoxin in pistachios. More information about the AF36 2013 Pistachio Program is available on the University of California’s Cooperative Extension website (scroll to the bottom of the web page), which also contains a variety of pistachio (and other commodity) videos from Farm Advisor Bob Beede. Click here to read more about it.

About the University of California Cooperative Extension Across California, the University of California’s 64 Cooperative Extension offices are local problem-solving centers. More than 300 campus-based specialists and county-based farm, home and youth advisors work as teams to bring practical, unbiased, science-based answers to problems across California. As part of the agricultural community, they help farmers develop more efficient growing methods, solve pest management problems and develop crops and irrigation methods that use less water.

APG, along with 120 other specialty crop farm groups, signed onto a letter asking Congress to pass the Federal Ag Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (FARRM Act).The proposed legislation would provide funding for a number of important programs to agriculture and specifically the American pistachio industry, such as Market Access Program (MAP) funding, Specialty Crop Block Grant funding and Specialty Crop Research Initiative funding. APG is part of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which is working to insure its interests are addressed. APG sits on the groups’ Steering Committee.

On June 20, the House of Representatives, by vote of 234 to 195, failed to approve its version of the 2013 Farm Bill (H.R. 1947). The House defeated the Chabot/McClintock amendment that would have eliminated MAP funding by an overwhelming vote of 322 to 98. There is uncertainty what the House will do now. It may try to revive the legislation or possibly pass a one or twoyear extension of the current law.

Nearly 300 pistachio growers participated in regional meetings near their homes this spring.

Four regional membership luncheons were hosted

by APG at Madera Country Club, Harris Ranch, Bakersfield Woolgrowers, and Louie Cairo’s in Williams.

APG Board members were in attendance to show support and visit with members and nonmembers.

After each meal, presentations were conducted by Richard Matoian and Judy Hirigoyen (Rebecca Hall in Williams) to bring those who were not able to attend the Annual Conference updates on marketing and other APG programs.

The relaxed settings and smaller groups encouraged open dialog unique to our organization. These meetings are part of APG’s membership outreach, along with our Annual Conference and upcoming July 26 Membership Luncheon in Visalia. The aim is to encourage new members and energize current APG members.

The next Miss California will be crowned on Saturday, June 29 at the William Saroyan Theatre in Fresno. Tickets are available at no charge to APG Members.

The next Miss California (who will also be APG’s 2013 beauty, health and fitness ambassador) will be crowned on Saturday, June 29 in Fresno. Come and watch as the young ladies are judged on character, poise, confidence and personality.

To place your ticket order call the APG office at 559.475.0435.