Sweet Trend Fuels Pistachio Boom

According to an Ag Alert from the California Farm Bureau, soaring demand for pistachios is being fueled by the global popularity of Dubai chocolate, a confection filled with pistachio paste and tahini. What began as a trend has expanded into a wide range of foods, from pastries like croissants and eclairs to espresso drinks and even barbecue sauce.

That shift is creating new opportunities for California growers. The state now produces about 65 percent of the world’s pistachios, and acreage has more than doubled over the past decade. Growers expected prices to drop during high production years, but instead, rising demand for pistachio paste has pushed prices higher.

“Growers are making more on their pistachios, which is great for the industry,” said Bikram Hundal, vice president of operations for Sequoia Nut Company/Custom Almonds LLC in Tulare County.

Experts say this demand signals a lasting change in how pistachios are used.

For more, visit https://www.agalert.com/california-ag-news/archives/april-8-2026/ingredient-market-increases-demand-for-pistachios/