July 2014 American Pistachio Growers eNews

Introducing Miss California 2014 UK’s Popular Daddy Blogger Creates Crusted Chicken Dish Using American Pistachios Seventh Annual APG Membership Luncheon APG Store Sample Sale Central Valley Water Forum APG Pistachio Production Seminar UC California’s Upcoming Pistachio Production Course Aflatoxin Regulations Pistachio Marketing Order Revised

“I am honored to be representing American Pistachio Growers as their ambassador.

I have always been very mindful of my diet, making every calorie count. Pistachios are one of my favorite foods. They are delicious, satisfying and filled with the nutrients I need to help me be my very best.�

Miss California, Marina Inserra, formerly Miss Yosemite Valley and a San Diego native, was crowned in Fresno, California, June 27, 2014. Her talent is vocal and her platform is breast cancer awareness.

American pistachios are the Official Snack of Miss California, who is regarded worldwide as the personification of the iconic California lifestyle. As APG’s health, fitness and beauty ambassador, Miss California represents APG at events worldwide and participates in social media postings.

APG invited Germany’s most influential journalists to an exclusive rooftop press event.

Topics included sports nutrition, the nutritional benefits of pistachios for athletes and active lifestyles, and the many ways pistachios can be incorporated into daily diets. Over 30 members of the media attended, representing publications such as Men’s Health, Runner’s World and Shape.

The Reluctant Housedad, the UK’s popular daddy blogger, created a chicken recipe for his blog using American pistachios, compliments of APG. Below is his blog highlighting American pistachios in a delicious chicken recipe.

Pistachio nuts are healthy, and not just because you work up a sweat cracking them and peeling them before launching them into your mouth. They are full of loads of good stuff. So much good stuff, in fact, that road racer Mark Cavendish - the fastest man on two wheels - has given his support to a promo campaign by the American Pistachio Nut Growers’ Association. I implore you to give this recipe for Pistachio Crusted Chicken a go.

By the Reluctant House Dad Yield: 4 Servings Ingredients 2 Chicken breasts, skinless, cut horizontally into halves

2 tbsp Olive oil

½ cup Shelled pistachios (kernels)

2 tbsp Runny honey

½ cup Breadcrumbs

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp Dijon mustard Procedure: Preheat oven to 356 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Shell the pistachios and put the nuts in a blender and blend to crumbs. Mix together the pistachios and bread crumbs on a plate.

In a separate bowl, stir together Dijon mustard, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper until smooth. Dip the chicken pieces into the mustard mixture, then coat with the pistachio crumbs. Place onto the baking sheet and bake for approximately 25 minutes, until the coating is crisp and golden, and the breast meat is cooked through.

Slice into strips and serve on a bed of salad of your choice (I used green leaves, shaved carrots and sliced cucumbers) and if you like, drizzle over a dressing of your choice. Sweet chili works as a treat, as does honey mustard, or even, as I’ve done here, Japanese katsu curry sauce.

Ingredients: 1 tbsp Sunflower oil 1 Onion, peeled and chopped 3 Garlic cloves, peeled 1 Carrot, peeled and chopped 1 tbsp Flour 2 tsp Medium curry powder 10 oz. Chicken stock 1 teaspoons Honey 2 tsp Soy sauce 1 Bay leaf ½ tsp Garam masala Procedure: Heat the oil in a small non-stick saucepan, then add the onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add the carrots and sweat for 10 minutes, until tender and starting to caramelize. Stir in the flour and curry powder and cook for 1 minute.

Gradually pour in the stock until combined, then add the honey, soy sauce and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, so the sauce thickens but is still of pouring consistency.

Add the Garam masala, then transfer to a food processor (or use a stick blender) and blend until smooth. Return to the pan and keep on a low heat until ready to serve.

The reluctant dad juggles a working-from-home career as a freelance writer with bringing up kids, ages 11, 9 and 6. His blog started as a parenting blog but has become more and more dedicated to food.

He is also contributing editor and columnist for the parenting website, Parentdish.co.uk.

APG celebrated the 4th of July with the Fresno Grizzlies Baseball team. Our popular mascot, American Pistachio, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to start the game. Throughout the game APG sample packs of pistachios were thrown into the crowd as they chanted, “PISTACHIOS,” “PISTACHIOS,” “PISTACHIOS!”

Join the Farm Grown Water Forum to discuss the current drought conditions and the impact on the Central Valley Ag Industry.

Tickets to the forum come with tickets to the game as well as hamburgers and all-you-can-eat hot dogs.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY! TICKET ONLY $35

APG hosted a number of members-only pistachio production seminars on June 20, 24 and 25, led by Bob Beede, UCCE Farm Advisor, Emeritus. Members received both an informative lecture and question-and-answer session with Mr. Beede regarding production issues and how to deal with various orchard challenges faced by growers. During the session, Bob distributed a thought-provoking “pop quiz” about pistachio production – answers are available on the member portion of the APG website – click here (when link icon appears, click on it) to see how you scored. Based on responses, similar seminars will be held in the future.

Advances in Pistachio Production will be held at the Visalia Convention Center on November 18-20, 2014.

Course registration, via an online survey, is available by clicking here (when link icon appears, click on it). Or visit the Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center website (fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu) for more information.

The U.S. Agricultural Marketing Service published a new rule revising the aflatoxin sampling regulations currently prescribed under the California, Arizona, and New Mexico pistachio marketing order. The order regulates the handling of pistachios grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico, and is administered locally by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios. This rule allows the use of mechanical samplers (auto-samplers) for in-line selection to obtain samples for aflatoxin analysis. The use of autosamplers is expected to reduce handler costs by providing a more efficient and cost-effective process.

For example, handlers will have the option of using mechanized rather than manual sampling. Automatic samplers in handlers’ processing facilities will mechanically draw samples of pistachios as they are being processed. This will make the process more efficient by eliminating the extra warehouse space and handler labor needed for staging static lots for sampling. In addition, the labor costs of manual sampling will be eliminated, further reducing handler costs.

For more information contact Andrea.

Ricci@ams.usda.gov or Martin.

Engeler@ams.usda.gov, or call Telephone: (559) 487-5901, Fax: (559) 487-5906.