TI PRESENTIAMO I NOSTRI COLTIVATORI AMERICANI DI PISTACCHI!

LA FAMIGLIA AMIN Ali Amin è nato e cresciuto in Iran, in una famiglia di contadini. Da quattro generazioni, la famiglia Amin coltiva e commercializza pistacchi nella San Joaquin Valley. Nel 1989 Ali Amin ha fondato Primex International, una società commerciale specializzata nella lavorazione, promozione ed esportazione dei pistacchi. È inoltre responsabile della supervisione di alcune coltivazioni di pistacchio nella California centrale.

La famiglia Blackwell Tre generazioni di Blackwell coltivano pistacchi in una zona chiamata Little Creek, dove le propaggini della Sierra Nevada scendono verso il fondo della Valle di San Joaquin. Brian iniziò a lavorare da giovane alla Pioneer Nursery dove vengono sviluppati i ceppi di pistacchio per l'industria. Lui e suo figlio Jeremy ora coltivano la propria terra, oltre a gestire le aziende agricole di altre famiglie.

La famiglia Burcham Nel 1998, Larry e Linda Gage hanno piantato il primo campo di pistacchi della Gage Farms, situato su quello che era il corso di un fiume appena fuori Firebaugh, in California. Nel 2000, la famiglia si è allargata con il matrimonio tra la figlia Klytia e Steve Burcham. Insieme, hanno piantato l’ultimo raccolto nel 2005. Nel 2011, con la morte di Larry, Steve ha preso il timone dell’attività di famiglia.

LA FAMIGLIA COOK Jim Cook’s family has ranched and farmed in Arizona since the 1880s. In 1973, he began farming pistachios, which was a new crop in the area. He raised his sons, Mark and Michael, who farmed alongside with him. Now they all farm their own land as well as manage the farms of others in Southeastern Arizona, where pistachios have become an important crop. Mark chairs the Arizona Pistachio Growers Association.

LA FAMIGLIA Dille Thom Dille is the general manager for Fiddyment Farms, which includes pistachios in Kern County and a boutique pistachio processing operation near Sacramento, California. Thom lives in Lincoln, California with his wife Dottie, and he is past Chairman of American Pistachio Growers.  He has advocated on behalf of pistachio farmers in Washington, DC and has represented them in China, meeting with dignitaries and consumers alike.

LA FAMIGLIA Fiddyment David Fiddyment is a pioneer in the American pistachio industry, with his first orchard being in Roseville, California. For many years pistachio growers used processing technology that was invented by him. Their children, Diane and Duane, joined David and his wife Dolly in their farming operation.

LA FAMIGLIA Kahlon Raj Kahlon, proprietario di RHM Farms a Merced in California, coltiva i pistacchi a Le Grand, a Planada e nella vicina contea di Madera. Cresciuto nel nord dell’India, fin da bambino riceve dal nonno gli insegnamenti e i segreti dell’agricoltura. Nel 1991, quando si trasferisce nella San Joaquin Valley in California, coltiva verdi campi e alberi di pino. Nel 1996 acquista i terreni e nel 2001 comincia a coltivare i pistacchi. Per ringraziare la comunità, Kahlon ha donato 5 milioni di dollari per sostenere i programmi agricoli del Merced College e il complesso futuro tecnologico e industriale di quasi 20.000 metri quadrati.

LA FAMIGLIA Keenan In 1972, Keenan Farms began when Charles Keenan purchased 100 acres of newly planted pistachio trees in Avenal, California. With their first crop in 1976, Charles and his son, Robert, took a further step as growers and invested in their own processing equipment. Since then, the family has been growing, processing and marketing pistachios. Robert has served in leadership roles for both the California Pistachio Commission and American Pistachio Growers.

LA FAMIGLIA Lowder For the last two generations, Larry and Janice Lowder have farmed cooperatively with other family members, who also own farms. They’re located in Central California, where they also grow raisins and almonds. Larry has served on the American Pistachio Growers Board of Directors, and Janice volunteers on the Nutrition Research Subcommittee.

LA FAMIGLIA Orandi In 1971, Dr. Mehdi Orandi, a fifth-generation farmer from Rafsanjan, Iran, joined his brother, Dr. Ahmad Orandi, to plant their first orchard of pistachios in Terra Bella, California. Now the Orandis have seven families working in farming, farm management and processing. Mehdi and his son Adam farm side-by-side, marking six generations of pistachio growers. Adam serves on the American Pistachio Growers Board of Directors.

LA FAMIGLIA Pitigliano Fourth-generation farmers (now raising the fifth generation) Charlie and Nancy Pitigliano value the community involvement and family time that a life of farming affords them. Joined by their sons Dominic, Mike and Josh, they farm pistachios in Tipton, California. Dominic serves in a leadership role for the American Pistachio Growers membership, including the Board of Directors.

LA FAMIGLIA Robinson A longtime farm manager, Gary Robinson started his own pistachio farm in 1997. Supported by his wife Karen and daughter Kristi, he now grows pistachios, almonds and walnuts on the west side of Fresno County, California. Gary and Kristi have both served in leadership roles for the California Pistachio Commission and American Pistachio Growers.

LA FAMIGLIA Salehi After a career in banking, Vahid Salehi followed his uncles, from the Orandi family, into pistachio farming, losing his suit-and-tie attire in favor of work boots and jeans. Supported by his wife Asiyeh, he oversees multiple aspects of the farm operations near Visalia, California.

LA FAMIGLIA Schmiederer Frank Coit started the family farm, of about 10,000 acres, in the Central Valley town of Mendota, California. After his death in 1970, the family combined Coit Farming with Schmiederer Family Farms. In 1995, they planted their first pistachios. Jeff Schmiederer has served on the Membership Committee of American Pistachio Growers.

LA FAMIGLIA Schweers While George Schweers was researching crops grown in the deserts of the world, one crop kept coming to the top of the lists—pistachios. He bought land and planted in the early 1970s. By 1976, the Schweers had their first harvest. They now have pistachio orchards and vineyards on their farm in New Mexico. George is a past member of the American Pistachio Growers Board of Directors.

LA FAMIGLIA Wilkinson Larry Wilkinson’s grandmother, Janie Poonian, began farming in the mid-1980s, in Delano, California. She taught him to farm and now he carries on the family tradition. He farms with his wife Lorie and their six children. Larry has served as a volunteer on various committees with American Pistachio Growers, in support of the entire community of pistachio growers.

LA FAMIGLIA Valov Over 30 years ago, Jimi started farming in Kern County. In 1983, he and his brother planted 40 acres of pistachios. The 33-year-old trees still produce. Jimi is the owner and managing partner of Valov & Sons Farming, in Tulare and Kings counties, where they grow pistachios, almonds, cotton, and alfalfa. Jimi and his wife Tammy are very active philanthropists in their community, and Jimi is past Chairman of American Pistachio Growers.

LA FAMIGLIA Watte George Watte e i suoi figli hanno iniziato a coltivare campi che includevano cotone, grano, mais ed erbe mediche nel 1983 a Tulare in California. Nel 2000, hanno piantato i loro primi pistacchi e ora insieme possiedono un’attività agricola. Brian ha ricoperto ruoli di direzione all’American Pistachio Growers, incluso il Consiglio di Amministrazione, e sua moglie Patti fa parte della Nutrition Research Subcommittee. Il figlio Matt Watte ha viaggiato in Cina facendo parte di una missione di sensibilizzazione commerciale per favorire il rapporto tra i consumatori cinesi e l’impresa dei pistacchi.

LA FAMIGLIA Wylie The Wylie brothers, Craig and Chris, started farming in Madera, California. in the 1970s. Now their sons, Justin, Chase and Ryan carry on the family business. Chris and his son Ryan also manage the orchards at Agri-World Co-op in Madera. Justin and Chase work alongside their father Craig on the family’s ranch. Justin volunteers as Vice-Chair of the Nutrition Research Subcommittee, at American Pistachio Growers, and is on the Board of Directors.