September 16, 2008

A 16-member delegation from Peoples Republic of China led by Niu Dun, vice minister for Agriculture, and USDA delegation led by Constance Jackson, undersecretary of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, visited California State University, Fresno pistachio orchards on Sept. 12, just as harvesting was about to begin.

Chinese delegation, USDA and Fresno State officials in pistachio orchard

The university's 25-acre pistachio laboratory is in its seventh year and will yield its third crop when harvesting begins Friday, Sept. 19. Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of the university agricultural laboratory, said he expects the trees to product about 2,500 pounds per acre this year. When fully mature, the harvest should produce about 5,000 pounds per acre, he said.

California pistachios are gaining popularity because of their superior quality and nutritional value, Srinivasan said. The visit of Chinese delegation is expected to open up new export markets for pistachios, according to Srinivasan. He briefed the visitors on the agronomic practices involved in growing the crop as well as the processing and marketing of the nuts. The ministerial delegation later visited the Gibson Farm Market on campus, where they sampled Fresno State’s student produced pistachios.

The visitors were accompanied by officials from Meridian Nut Growers who partner with Fresno State in processing and marketing pistachios.