Where have all the red pistachio's gone?

Question

Hi community members,

I live in Mn & have not been able to get red pistachio nuts in over a year- one of my favorite nuts. Does anyone know why? I shall return a 10 points to the person I feel gave the best answer. Thanks & have a good night.:0)

Answer 1

"Until the mid-1970s, all pistachios sold in the United States were imported, mainly from the Middle East. The traditional growing and harvesting methods used by pistachio farmers in countries such as Iran, Syria, and Greece often left blemishes on the outer shell, which American importers would mask with a red vegetable dye. But with the growth of the domestic pistachio industry, the days of the red pistachio may be numbered. About 96 percent of the pistachios currently sold in the United States are grown in California. These nuts are harvested without blemishes, which makes the red dyes moot."