August 2008
One of the world's oldest nuts, pistachios Pistacia vera are indigenous to ancient Persia, an area that once stretched from the Mediterranean to Afghanistan. Often called the ‘green almond’ as well as the ‘happy’ or ‘smiling’ nut for resembling a smiling face with their split shell, pistachios grew in the hanging gardens of Babylon, and have been enjoyed for at least 10,000 years. Pistachios grow on trees in heavy clumps similar to grape clusters. It was believed that good fortune and happiness came to couples enjoying these nuts while listening to the cracking sound of the shells above their heads as they strolled through the orchards. With its Mediterranean–like climate, California's Central Valley is the only place in the U.S. where pistachios can be grown, and today California is the second largest producer of pistachios in the world, next to Iran. In the 1930s American plant scientist William E. Whitehouse spent months in Persia collecting pistachio seeds. He returned with 20 pounds of seeds and began cultivating. Yet, it wasn't until the 1970s that the pistachio took off as a commercial crop in California.
Crunchy, Green, and Good For You
Dry roasted and shelled EDEN Organic Pistachios are organically grown on a 13–year organic family orchard in California. They are the prized Kerman variety — plump, bright green, crunchy, and buttery. EDEN Pistachios are harvested in late August to early October when the hulls turn rosy and the shells split indicating ideal ripeness. At harvest, machines shake the tree for several seconds causing the ripe pistachios to fall into a canvas frame. The nuts are hulled, dried, sorted, and shipped to Eden where they are rotary oven dry roasted, lightly misted with EDEN Sea Salt, cooled and packaged. EDEN Organic Pistachios deliver healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, 7 grams per 3 tablespoon serving with no cholesterol. They are low sodium and a good source of protein, dietary fiber, thiamin (vitamin B1), and manganese. A mildly sweet ‘good for you’ snack, they can be ground and used to make cream sauces and desserts; chopped and tossed in stir fries, pasta, salads, pilaf, couscous and wild rice dishes, and are great in baked goods, party mixes, and with cereals.
Back to School or On the Go
Organic Pistachios are the newest of 10 healthy EDEN snacks in handy 4 ounce reclosable pouches. All are easy to have at hand whether at home, at school, at work or on the go. Choose from scrumptious offerings including dried fruit and berries, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and mixes. Unsalted or with a bit of EDEN sea salt, all are low or very low sodium with no refined sugars, no trans–fats, no preservatives, no sulfites, and only the finest, non–irradiated organically grown seasonings. Roasting and packaging is done at Eden's certified organic Clinton, Michigan headquarters. This production facility, all its equipment and procedures are inspected and rated ‘Superior’ by AIB International. This is the highest grade of safety and purity in food manufacturing. Most packaged snacks deplete energy and well–being as they contain bad fats that are highly saturated and often hydrogenated, excessive salt, refined sugar, chemical preservatives, dyes, additives, and a long list of chemical processing aids. Eden offers a natural difference, snacks that are not junk food but delicious, real nourishing real food.
