The innocent pistachio is a source of conflict between these two countries
Pistachios, those beautiful green-yellow nuts that are addictive as a self-shelling snack but are also used to make absurdly delicious Italian gelato (also in our own country at the best gelaterias in the Netherlands), are grown in several countries. But two very large producers of the nut are deeply at odds with each other…
Pistachios are grown on a very large scale in both Iran and the United States. A significant portion is intended for export to countries where the plant grows less successfully or not at all. According to online magazine Paste, the sanctions on Iranian goods are particularly beneficial to a major pistachio producer from California.
Financial pressure
A documentary is in the works (the makers are still looking for donors via Kickstarter to complete the project) called Pistachio Wars, which examines the Californian company The Wonderful Company. The company would benefit from the financial pressure imposed on Iran, while simultaneously flouting environmental regulations and environmental protection measures in its own state.
Division
A great deal of political scheming and wanting to have it both ways (on the one hand, wanting to be seen by a somewhat more ‘left-wing’ audience as makers of a healthy snack, while on the other hand financially supporting right-wing politicians who want to keep the sanctions—and therefore a pistachio trade war—in place) are what the company is accused of in the documentary.
Pistachios for everyone
Incidentally, many pistachios are also grown in Turkey, China and Syria, among other countries. Make pistachio ice cream and pistachio cake and mousse, not war, is what we would like to urge everyone to do…
Read also:
- Recipe: lamb cutlets with a pistachio crust
- Want this insanely delicious Turkish pizza too? Then you need to come here
- Brioche con gelato
