One of the oldest flowering nuts to be eaten by kings, queens, travelers and common folks was the “Pistachio,” “the power punch nut” was imported to the United States in the 1880’s.
By the 1960s, with careful research and commercial cultivation of pistachios, the producing of the Power Nut had expanded into the state’s Central Valley. Today, California is the second largest producer of pistachios worldwide with California’s pistachios recognized as the finest in the world.
Pistachio Sizing
Inshell Pistachios
Size Description (average number of inshell nuts per ounce, before roasting)
Colossal: Less than 18 whole nuts per ounce
Extra large: Average count of 18 – 20 whole nuts per ounce
Large: Average count of 21 – 25 whole nuts per ounce
Medium: Average count of 26 – 30 whole nuts per ounce
Small: More than 30 whole nuts per ounce
Pistachio Grades 
Inshell Pistachio Grades:
- U.S Fancy
- U.S. Extra No. 1
- U.S. No. 1
- U.S. Select
- U.S. Artificially Opened
- U.S. Non-split
Whole Kernel Grades:
- U.S. Fancy
- U.S. Extra No. 1
- U.S. No. 1
| Packaged In | Pallet Weight |
1 X 40 Foot Container | 1 X 20 Foot Container |
| 25 lb. Cartons |
80 cartons per pallet 2,000 lbs. net weight |
1,680 cartons | 1,140 cartons |
| 50 lb. Bags |
40 bags per pallet 2,000 lbs. net weight |
880 bags | 600 bags |
| 2,000 lb. Tote Bags |
1 bag per pallet 2,000 lbs. net weight |
22 bags | 10 or 12 bags |
**25 pound bulk cartons—Roasted and Salted/Unsalted Inshell, or Raw Kernels
**50 pound bulk poly bags—Raw Inshell
**2000 pound tote poly bags—Raw Inshell
Sources:
USDA (United States Standards for Grades of Pistachio Nuts in the Shell)
USDA (United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pistachios)