Do you love pistachios?
Do you love pistachios? These people do! Pistachioland in Alamogordo, NM has approximately 90 acres of pistachio trees and almost 14 acres of grapes. The climate here is perfect for growing pistachios - hot, dry, and windy! It is also the home to the World’s Largest Pistachio ! This was definitely a great stop - make sure to take the tour and get some of their homemade pistachio ice cream if you visit!
❓Did you know that pistachios have male and female trees? A farm like this has 1 male tree for every 10-15 female trees. The wind 💨 (not bees!) pollenates the plants each year. Can you pick out the male trees? (Hint, they are bigger)
❓Did you know that it took almost 30 years of research and development to get pistachios to grow commercially in the US? YEP! After importing over 20lbs of seeds from Persia in 1929, American botanist, William E. Whitehouse had one (you read that right) that actually produced a tree with fruit almost a decade later. Scientists were able to graph this tree to more hearty root stock, and in the 1960’s the American Pistachio industry was born. Look closely at some of the photos and you can tell where the root stock ends.
