1929 .– The scientist William E. Whitehouse, as instructed by Knowles A. Ryerson (1893-1990), entered Persia (Iran) to obtain pistachio seeds. In that time Ryerson was in charge of the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introductions (USDA) Washington, D.C .
1929-30 .- Whitehouse explored Persia and collected 20 pounds of individually selected pistachio seeds, which he took to Washington, D.C.
1930-1950 .- About 3000 trees grew from 20 pounds of seed. However, only one tree proved to be useful. In 1936 Ryerson accepted the position as Professor and Director of the Davis campus of the University of California.
1950s .- The successful pistachio tree seeds were named Kerman this name comes from the plains in Iran, where the pistachio seeds collected by Dr. Whitehouse were found. Pistachio production in California flourished during the 1950's and continued to gain strength and recognition throughout the 60's and 79's.
1990s. .- The US climbed the charts to become the world's second largest producer and exporter of pistachio nuts.
2007 .- Over 415 million pounds of California pistachios were marketed.
Harry Dewey was one of the growers who helped establish pistachios in California. Harry , 82, lives, with his wife Jane, in the town of Yolo, north of California, near Sacramento. In 1860s, his great-grandfather bought 180 acres from a Spanish land grant। In the farm he had oak trees, grains and farm animals, his grandfather planted almonds in 1912 In the 1960s, Harry offered to plant 10 acres of pistachios for University of California to find out if it was a viable crop for this area। They did really well। . The first commercial pistachio crop was grown in California in 1976.
1929-30 .- Whitehouse explored Persia and collected 20 pounds of individually selected pistachio seeds, which he took to Washington, D.C.
1930-1950 .- About 3000 trees grew from 20 pounds of seed. However, only one tree proved to be useful. In 1936 Ryerson accepted the position as Professor and Director of the Davis campus of the University of California.
1950s .- The successful pistachio tree seeds were named Kerman this name comes from the plains in Iran, where the pistachio seeds collected by Dr. Whitehouse were found. Pistachio production in California flourished during the 1950's and continued to gain strength and recognition throughout the 60's and 79's.
1990s. .- The US climbed the charts to become the world's second largest producer and exporter of pistachio nuts.
2007 .- Over 415 million pounds of California pistachios were marketed.
Harry Dewey was one of the growers who helped establish pistachios in California. Harry , 82, lives, with his wife Jane, in the town of Yolo, north of California, near Sacramento. In 1860s, his great-grandfather bought 180 acres from a Spanish land grant। In the farm he had oak trees, grains and farm animals, his grandfather planted almonds in 1912 In the 1960s, Harry offered to plant 10 acres of pistachios for University of California to find out if it was a viable crop for this area। They did really well। . The first commercial pistachio crop was grown in California in 1976.
SOURCES:
Gwen Schoen Sep। 10, 2008। Get to know pistachios। Flavor, nutrition and
history: They all come packed in that little Shell. The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, CA.
Pistachios. 2008. Commodity fact sheet. CFAITC. California Pistachio Commission. 2008. Sacramento CA.
Wilford Clark Clark Kerr Maurice Peterson Loy Sammet Harry R. Wellman . Knowles 2007. A. Ryerson, Agriculture: Berkeley. Calisphere UC Libraries. California Digital Library. UCA. 1997.
Pistachios. 2008. Commodity fact sheet. CFAITC. California Pistachio Commission. 2008. Sacramento CA.
Wilford Clark Clark Kerr Maurice Peterson Loy Sammet Harry R. Wellman . Knowles 2007. A. Ryerson, Agriculture: Berkeley. Calisphere UC Libraries. California Digital Library. UCA. 1997.
