Pistachios Reygar
Organic Pistachio Growers
THE PISTACHIO
The cultivation of the pistachero dates back thousands of years, its origins are located in Asia, in Persia (Iran) ownership of the pistachio lands meant wealth and high status. With the conquests of Alexander the Great comes to Greece, and later, with the rise of the Roman Empire was also introduced in Italy and Spain.
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The expansion of trade in the Mediterranean favored Italy to sign agreements with Syria that distributed the product by the Mediterranean arriving in central Europe where it was used as an exclusive and expensive condiment of some dishes. Pistachio was considered a popular snack after World War II.
In Spain, as we have said, began to cultivate in Roman times, was developed by the Arabs and disappeared in the Middle Ages with the Moors, believed due to the removal of male trees, but in 1980 was reintroduced. At present, it is considered a relatively recent crop, producing about 150t, but it is established as an alternative in arid zones of the peninsula.
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In the United States it was introduced in the mid-nineteenth century in the Central Valley of California, due to the fertility of its soil, as well as to its warm and dry climate with milder winters, offering the ideal growing conditions for the dried fruit.
The main pistachio producing countries are Iran, the USA (California), Turkey, Syria, China and Greece.
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The largest importer in the world is Germany, followed by Spain with an import of pistachios of about 12,000t a year and then France and the countries of the Middle East. The United States is self-sufficient with California production.
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The characteristics of these trees make the needs of its own to be fulfilled in the majority of Spain where the dry lands abound with cold winters and hot summers.
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The pistachero (Pistacia vera L., Anacardiaceae, or Pistaciaceae) grows to a height of 7 meters with deciduous leaves of about 10 to 20 centimeters. In the species males and females are differentiated, which is why pollination is essential to obtain fruits.
It is a tree of desert lands and therefore very resistant and tolerant to many types of lands. It develops best in warm climates with low humidity and where the soil has a free drainage since the accumulated moisture can damage the roots.
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For their development, the needs of water of the tree are not very demanding with about 350 to 400 mm, obtaining better harvests if the irrigation is increased. It supports temperatures between -30º and 50º and a winter dormancy of at least 800 hours below 7º and a need for heat units ranging between 3200 and 3600 between April and September is required.