Members of our Marketing and Government Relations team recently attended a USDA-sponsored trade mission in Mexico City to strengthen relationships with government officials while experiencing first-hand the culture and marketplace. It was evident that pistachios continue to increase in popularity in Mexico. We heard about a surge of interest in kernels and witnessed this trend on shelf. The Dubai chocolate trend is still holding strong in Mexico and pistachios are widely present as an ingredient on restaurant menus as well. We’re seeing this reflected in shipments, which are off to a strong start this year.
From a trend perspective, we learned that Mexico is an aspirational culture, and we’re seeing pistachios positioned as a premium, high quality product with beautifully designed, private label packaging. Additionally, sampling is an extremely important marketing tactic for consumer trial in Mexico, and our pistachios were on display in retail locations across Mexico City for consumers to sample and buy. For those looking to do business in Mexico, we learned that WhatsApp is the preferred form of communication, surpassing email and phone.
Over the next few months, our two nutrition research studies looking at the impact of pistachios on the diets of people in Mexico will wrap up, helping to strengthen our policy efforts to request an exemption for pistachios on the Mexico snack tax. The cross-functional work between the APG Marketing and Government Relations teams continue to support our presence and demand for American Quality pistachios in Mexico.
APG Provides Key Update on SCTC Announcements No. 9 and No. 10
China has announced the suspension of two retaliatory tariff layers previously applied to U.S. pistachios. This is an important development for the American pistachio industry, as China remains our largest export market.
According to recent updates shared with APG, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) issued Announcements No. 9 and No. 10 confirming that the additional tariff increases applied on March 4 and April 4 are now suspended. This update aligns with earlier indications from the White House following discussions between President Trump and President Xi Jinping.
China will maintain a 10 percent tariff that is part of the fentanyl related tariff package. Importers report that they expect to resume customs clearance once procedural guidance for the updated tariff structure is implemented.
Why This Matters
China continues to be the largest importer of U.S. pistachios, so tariff changes have significant implications for growers and processors. With both retaliatory tariff layers suspended, U.S. pistachios will return to the tariff levels in place prior to March 4, 2025. This improves our competitiveness compared to Iranian product and strengthens the outlook for the 2025 and 2026 marketing year.
Early sentiment from Chinese importers is positive. Many are preparing to clear shipments currently held at ports as soon as the revised tariff procedures take effect.
APG’s Role in Monitoring Developments
APG is coordinating real time updates through:
What Happens Next
APG will continue to monitor the implementation of the SCTC announcements and will share additional updates as new information becomes available.
When traveling to Europe for a trade event, we discovered in Poland, pistachio proliferation is on a whole new level. At several grocery stores, we found not just in-shell and pistachio Kernels, but also several types of Dubai style Chocolate bars (made with pistachio cream). We also found more innovative products, like Pistachio pesto, pistachio coffee and pistachio liqueur. We are excited to bring these innovative ideas to other countries to continue to drive the demand for pistachios.
The initial health study commissioned in Mexico, aimed at supporting the removal of pistachios from the snack tax list, has been completed. The findings are overwhelmingly positive.
Amber and her team are finalizing edits before publication. Once released, the study is expected to significantly aid efforts to advocate for pistachios to be excluded from the snack tax.
It was an honor to present our case to the Mexican Senate during the California-Mexico Cross-Border Relations Committee. APG is working with the members of the Mexican Senate to eliminate the snack tax on pistachios.
Bypassing a midnight timeline, on Saturday, September 13th, the California State Legislature adjourned the first year of the 2025-2026 Legislative Session. Hundreds of the remaining bills passed by the Senate and Assembly were moved to be prepared for Governor Newsom’s review, pending signature or veto. Governor Newsom had until October 12th to take such action. Agriculture and business generally fared comparatively well, relative to prior legislative sessions. Voters’ interests in affordability were likely the largest variable influencing state legislators’ decision-making, in addition to ongoing budget deficits. Regardless, this year still saw pushes from the labor and environmental justice community to reintroduce previous legislation or further regulate the pistachio industry.
Below are the bills of particular interest from throughout the legislative year. Legislators will reconvene for the remainder of the 2025-2026 Legislative Session on January 5, 2026.
Successful Legislative Wins for APG
Alliance of California Farmers and Ranchers Community Fund
The Alliance recently hosted its annual Fall Policy Summit, and it was one of the most successful conferences to date. We were honored to welcome 18 elected officials and 10 candidates from across the political spectrum.
Each election cycle, the Alliance focuses on supporting moderate candidates, both Republican and Democrat, who are open to learning about and advocating for California agriculture. Our mission is to educate candidates and elected officials about the critical role agriculture plays in our state’s economy and communities—and it’s working.
In the last election cycle, we achieved a 97% win rate, a testament to the effectiveness of our engagement strategy. These relationships have directly contributed to a productive and successful legislative session.
The Central Valley is Facing a Severe Rodent Issue
CAPCA is evaluating technology solutions for baseline pest monitoring — a capability that currently does not exist for any pest. We need your help. Please share and complete this short survey:
Your input will directly support efforts to:
This issue was also raised during the CDFA Meeting on October 6, 2025, underscoring the urgency for coordinated industry input. Thank you for taking a few minutes to contribute to this important effort.
We were pleased to have Congressman Adam Gray join us at the Merced Nut Festival, where he spent the day connecting with the community and sharing American Pistachio Growers pistachios.
We appreciate his continued support for California agriculture and the nut industry!
Photo Courtesy of Glen Camarda Photography
American Pistachio Growers joined forces with renowned Pastry Chef Ginger Elizabeth for the inaugural Terra Madre Sacramento event. Together, they showcased the versatility and flavor of California-grown pistachios, highlighting how this nutritious ingredient elevates both sweet and savory creations. This collaboration celebrated local ingredients, culinary innovation, and the farmers who make it all possible.
APG is pleased to announce that our annual golf tournament will now be known as the Corky Anderson PAC Golf Tournament. This change recognizes Corky Anderson’s longstanding leadership, commitment, and service to our industry. We look forward to celebrating his legacy at this year’s event and in the years to come.
The 2026 Tournament benefiting the APG Federal and State Pistachio PACs, will be held on Monday, February 16, 2026, in Indian Wells, CA.
On a windy Tuesday in August, a pistachio grower in Kern County sat at his desk staring at his renewal letter. Another double-digit increase. Again. Payroll was already tight. Labor was tighter. And here it was, another year of unpredictable healthcare costs, as if running a multi-state, seasonal workforce were not hard enough.
If you grow food for a living, you get used to solving problems fast. You adapt to weather, regulations, pests, and labor shortages. But healthcare has long felt like the one area where you have little control.
That is why a group of agricultural employers decided to take a different path. Their idea was simple. Create a benefits solution that understands agriculture from the inside. That idea became Western Growers Health, a health plan shaped by the people who nourish our nation.
A Health Plan Built for Agriculture
For more than 65 years, Western Growers Health has delivered worker-centered solutions that reflect the realities of life in the fields and packing houses. While many traditional plans experience annual increases of 12 to 18 percent, growers who partner with Western Growers Health see a different trend.
The five-year average renewal increase is under 4 percent. That stability is not the result of luck, rather it reflects a smarter system built around proactive care, meaningful intervention, and benefits built for agricultural work.
Custom Coverage for Operations That Do Not Sit Still
Agriculture does not operate within a single ZIP code or follow a standard 9-to-5 schedule. Yet many plans behave as if ag employers function like standard corporate environments.
That’s why many growers choose self-funded plans through Western Growers Health’s sister company Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc (Pinnacle). These plans give ag employers the flexibility that follows crews across regions and seasons. They include real-time reporting, bilingual support teams, and technology that simplifies compliance.
Employers often tell us this is the first time their health benefits feel like they fit their business, instead of the other way around.
Rising Drug Costs Are Real, but So Are the Solutions
Nearly every employer has felt the pressure of rising pharmacy costs. GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy now consume more than one in five employer drug dollars. Specialty drugs represent more than half of many pharmacy budgets.
For seasonal businesses like yours, that’s simply not sustainable.
That’s where Western Growers Health and Pinnacle leverage employee first pharmacy benefits managers like PinnacleRx Solutions. PinnacleRx responds to this challenge with hands-on pharmacy management. Through the Clinical Intervention Savings Program, PinnacleRx reviews high-cost prescriptions, works directly with physicians, and identifies safe, clinically appropriate, lower-cost alternatives.
One mid-sized grower avoided a steep renewal after PinnacleRx intervened. The employer saved $500,000 in a single year, and no workers lost access to needed medications. When pharmacy management is active and thoughtful, lower costs and strong outcomes can exist together.
Care That Meets Workers Where They Are
During harvest, even motivated workers struggle to access care. Clinics are far away, hours conflict with schedules, and language differences create added stress. Missing a full day of work for an appointment simply feels impossible.
Western Growers Health addressed these barriers by creating Cedar Health Centers in ag communities such as Oxnard and Salinas. These clinics offer same-day appointments, extended evening hours, zero-dollar copays for most services, and a fully bilingual staff.
The result is healthcare that workers actually use. A blood pressure check happens sooner. A child’s appointment is no longer delayed. A foreman avoids losing a full shift because a crew member can be seen after hours. When care feels accessible rather than intimidating, workers use it, and employers see the impact in productivity and fewer large claims.
Results That Matter to Employers
Employers who partner with Western Growers Health and Pinnacle experience higher use of preventive care, fewer large claims, steadier renewals, and stronger retention. These are not theoretical gains. They are measurable outcomes happening across farms, shippers, and ag businesses of every size.
A healthier workforce is good for people and good for business.
Conclusion: Innovation Rooted in Agriculture
At the root of innovation lies James G Parker Insurance Associates, the valley’s premier agri-business insurance agency, family owned and independently operated since 1978. Agri-business is the agency’s foundation, serving thousands of employers nationwide to make their companies safer, healthier, and more profitable.
Agri-businesses do not wait for solutions; they build and adapt them to meet the needs of their land and workforce. The teams at James G Parker Insurance, Western Growers Health, and Pinnacle share that same commitment. The goal is not simply to broker insurance policies; it is to protect the people who power American agriculture.
When you invest in your workers, you strengthen families, stabilize your business, and create a healthier future for the entire industry. Together, we can ensure that healthcare remains accessible, affordable, and aligned with the values that make agriculture strong.
To learn more about taking control of your healthcare program’s costs contact:
Cameron Parker, Vice President, James G Parker Insurance Associates cparker@jgparker.com | 559-241-7741
American Pistachio Growers held its annual Shelling Out Holiday Cheer Gift Drive, benefiting Toys for Tots. Growers and Industry Partners came together to celebrate the season of giving with festive spirits and hors d’oeuvres while connecting with fellow growers and donating unwrapped toys to help bring joy to children in need. We sincerely thank everyone who generously donated gifts and helped make this holiday season brighter for so many children.
After a two-month break for harvest, the 2025 LeadOn participants reconvened at Safe Food Alliance in Kingsburg, CA, for a half-day session focused on food safety. Roger Isom and Priscilla Rodriguez of the Western Tree Nut Association kicked off the program with an overview of the Food Safety Modernization Act, the Produce Safety Rule, and key compliance requirements for both farms and processors.
Tom Jones, Senior Technical Advisor at Safe Food Alliance, followed with an insightful presentation on foodborne illnesses in the pistachio industry, then guided the class on a tour of the on-site laboratory. The session proved both engaging and highly educational.
LeadOn will meet again in December for a deep dive with the APG team on Marketing and Nutrition Research.
Earlier this week, after an event in Riverdale, I trespassed.
I stopped at a member’s orchard, recently harvested, and walked a few rows. Fallen leaves crunched under my feet, the sun was shining, and a cool breeze blew (a reminder of how beautiful fall is in the Central Valley of California). A best practice would have been to contact the ranch owner and walk with them; I will be better next time.
The benefit of being by myself is that it allowed me to be reflective of the ‘why’ that drives our team at American Pistachio Growers. Walking those rows for a few minutes reminded me of how intentional we must be in service to our members. Your livelihood and success are the only reason that we are in business. It was a quasi-sacred experience and reinvigorated my desire to be tireless in my efforts to serve the pistachio community.
As we wrap up another successful harvest season, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you. Your dedication and hard work continue to strengthen our industry and ensure that American pistachios remain a symbol of quality and excellence worldwide.
Now, it’s time to look to our future. I’m thrilled to invite you to join us for the American Pistachio Growers Annual Conference, happening February 16–18 in Indian Wells, CA. This event is more than a gathering—it’s an opportunity to connect, learn, and shape the future of our industry together.
What to Expect:
Mark your calendars and make plans to attend!
Together, we’ll celebrate our achievements and chart a course for continued success.
Register Now 2026 Annual Conference – American Pistachio Growers
Thank you for allowing me to being an essential part of this incredible journey. Please enjoy the time with people you love during the holiday season, help a friend or neighbor out when the opportunity presents itself, and let’s look forward to gathering in a few short months in the Desert.
In November, APG hosted Cultivating a Sustainable Future: Water Efficiency and SGMA Strategies in Bakersfield, CA, bringing together growers, water experts, policymakers, and industry partners for a focused half-day program on the future of water in pistachio production. The event highlighted practical tools for improving on-farm water efficiency, provided clarity on SGMA implementation, and offered updates on California’s evolving water policies, along with insights into APG’s government affairs, global marketing, and sustainability initiatives. We extend our appreciation to the event sponsors and vendor partners—AgWest Farm Credit, BioFlora, HotSpot AG, Netafim USA, AvidWater, JSUB Irrigation™, JCS Marketing, Pacific Nut Producer, Ecolab SPS, Alzchem Group AG, and WiseConn—for supporting this important industry conversation.
Helping growers evaluate tools, solve real problems, and improve profitability.
American Pistachio Growers is offering a range of participation opportunities that help growers evaluate real solutions under real orchard conditions. These programs are designed to support better decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen both the economic and environmental sustainability of pistachio production. APG helps growers assess the value of new tools and technologies, connects them with the right partners, and provides support throughout the evaluation process.
Ultimately, these opportunities exist to help growers increase profitability and reduce risk, while continuing to advance responsible resource management.
Start here — APG helps growers review their practices and connect with tools or vendors that fit their operation.
APG offers a customized orchard consultation to evaluate irrigation strategy, soil and nutrient challenges, pest pressure, canopy structure, and operational goals. From there, APG connects growers with appropriate technologies, agronomic tools, and Associate Member partners that match their needs.
This service reduces risk, saves time, and ensures growers focus on solutions with the highest potential return.
Join a regional NOW monitoring effort using DAS, smart traps, and anonymized data-sharing. Growers in eligible regions can participate in a UC Riverside / Washington State University Decision Aid System (DAS) project that uses automated smart traps to refine NOW timing and regional movement insights.
Participation includes streamlined sharing of:
Growers receive:
This program improves spray timing and strengthens regional understanding of NOW behavior.
SmartApply® • On-Target® • WeedSeeker® 2
Evaluate precision spray systems using APG’s templates to quantify savings and impact.
Growers can participate in structured spray technology demonstrations that evaluate SmartApply®, On-Target® electrostatic spraying, and WeedSeeker® 2 optical weed control.
APG will:
These tools may reduce material use, improve coverage, and increase efficiency — and this is an opportunity to evaluate them under real orchard conditions.
Target amendments where they are needed most — improving weak areas and reducing unnecessary spending in stronger areas.
Growers can evaluate variable-rate gypsum, compost, lime, or fertilizer applications to manage orchard variability more precisely. This approach helps:
Growers apply materials using their own operators; APG provides evaluation support and interpretation.
A. Custom Cover Crop Program
Growers can work with cover crop experts to design mixes tailored to orchard-specific challenges including:
B. Oakville Bluegrass 10-Acre Reimbursement Grant + Carbon Study
Growers may also participate in a 10-acre Oakville Bluegrass planting funded through a reimbursement grant, plus a carbon credit economic assessment on the same block.
This helps improve soil health while contributing to emerging carbon valuation models for pistachios.
Evaluate irrigation technologies that support water efficiency and prepare your system for future SWEEP funding cycles.
APG firmly intends to apply for the upcoming SWEEP block grants and in effort to prepare for this potential award, will connect growers to irrigation technologies including water monitoring tools, soil moisture platforms, automation systems, and irrigation scheduling technologies.
APG will:
These technologies can improve timing, efficiency, and SGMA-related water management.
Stay ahead of water decisions that affect your ranch — without attending every meeting.
WaterOne.AI offers growers a suite of tools that track over 100 GSA and irrigation district meetings. To help growers stay on top of SGMA, WaterOne shares critical updates on policy decisions, water prices, recharge opportunities, allocation forecasts, and more.
Through “ChatGSA” and short virtual updates, growers receive the most relevant local water information in a format that’s easy to act on. Participation simply involves signing up and engaging with tools designed to help plan and protect your water future.
This is one of the easiest, highest-value services APG can put into growers’ hands.
Evaluate advanced precipitation and snowpack forecasting — and support APG’s water advocacy efforts.
APG is coordinating a five-grower pilot with Weather Tools (Rob Doornbos) to evaluate long-range forecasting accuracy and its usefulness for planning irrigation, disease management, and recharge timing. Grower feedback will help APG advocate for improved forecasting methods at the state and federal levels.
Robotics • Advanced Analytics • Drone Imagery • Dendrometers • Nanobubbles
Companies handle installation and technical support; APG helps growers navigate the analytics and practicality.
Participate in a Fresno State soil research project evaluating carbonic acid for infiltration and soil function.
One grower opportunity remains to join a Fresno State research project led by Dr. Sangeeta Bansal evaluating carbonic acid as a method to improve infiltration and health in pistachio soils. Growers participate in this research with support from Eco2Mix and advisory guidance from APG.
APG connects growers with nutrient programs that may offer better agronomic or economic fit.
Growers can explore enhanced-efficiency fertilizers, specialty blends, and alternative nutrient programs. APG introduces growers to companies offering these strategies and helps growers think through evaluation criteria — without dictating agronomic programs.
Biological Insecticides • Softer Chemistries • Biostimulants • Reflectants
Explore agronomic inputs with APG guidance on small-block evaluation design.
This includes tools such as Spear-Lep, lime sulfur, Oxidate 5.0, Sierra Naturals, biostimulants, and reflectants (kaolin, CaCO₃, TiO₂) and many others.
Growers who apply reflectant products using APG’s methodology may be able to participate in nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) sampling to evaluate effects on heat mitigation and tree physiology and yield.
Turn your agronomic and financial data into clear budgets, operational plans, and decision-ready dashboards.
APG is offering growers access to Rospec Insights, led by Nick Rosa, to help bring together all components of farm financials and agronomic performance into a unified analytical framework.
Rospec specializes in transforming farm records, cost structures, yield histories, and operational data into Power BI dashboards and financial tools that support accurate budgeting, scenario planning, and long-term decision-making.
Growers can take advantage of:
This service helps growers understand the true economics of their operation, evaluate practice changes with confidence, and create strategic plans grounded in real numbers — not guesswork.
APG coordinates the introduction and supports growers throughout the process to ensure the planning tools fit pistachio-specific needs.
If there’s something we haven’t covered — bring it to us. APG will explore it with you.
APG recognizes that some of the best innovations come directly from growers. If you’re facing a challenge, considering a new technology, testing a product, or exploring a practice that isn’t listed here, we want to hear about it. APG is committed to supporting grower-initiated ideas by helping evaluate new tools, coordinating small-scale trials, connecting you with the right partners, or building a collaborative study around your concept.
Our goal is simple: if it can help growers become more productive, profitable, or resilient, we want to help you explore it — and develop insights that benefit the broader pistachio community.
APG is committed to building a stronger, more resilient pistachio industry by working directly with growers to evaluate tools, technologies, and practices that improve profitability and long-term sustainability. These opportunities are designed to put practical solutions in your hands, reduce uncertainty, and support better decision-making across every aspect of orchard management.
If any of these programs interest you — or if you’d like to explore something not listed here — we’re ready to work with you. Your participation helps drive innovation across the industry, and APG is here to support you every step of the way.
Thank you for your continued leadership and engagement.
Joe Coelho
Director of Sustainability & Member Outreach
American Pistachio Growers
jcoelho@americanpistachios.org
559.260.5114
