Legendary Genetics
The history of pistachios in California has connections and deep roots that transcend time.
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Over the last 50 years, the industry has exploded in spite of the challenges and various headwinds it has faced.
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Our varieties along with innovators of the industry laid the groundwork for the $1.94 billion dollar industry that it is today.
Grow with our trusted varieties
Global Hero
UCB-1
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Most planted variety
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Class 1 & class 2 soil
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Salt & alkaline soil tolerance
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Cold tolerant
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Resistant to soil born disease
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Proven history of yields
Garber Gold
p. integerrima
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Oldest trusted variety
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Class 1 & high quality class 2 soil
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Modest salt & alkaline soil tolerance
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Resistant to soil born disease
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Higher longterm yields than UCB-1
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The history of Pistachios
in California
1970s
The verticillium trajedy of CA
In the 1970s there was a handful of pistachio nurseries in California. They were mainly growing a rootstock called Pistachia Atlantica. During this time the p. Atlantica variety was decimated by a fungal disease called verticillium wilt. The devastation of the spread was so vast that it put many nurseries out of business because they didn't have any varieties that were verticillium resistant.
A stronger variety
Mid
1970s
In the thick of the verticillium wilt spread a variety called Pistachia Integerrima, on a trial block, was serendipitously found to be verticillium wilt resistant as well as high yielding. Only two nurseries survived who went on to sell p. Integerrima until about 1990.
A push for more yields
1980
In 1980, our co-founder (Jerome Kresha), established his nursery in the central valley of California. He focused on developing a p. Integerrima cross that had superior resistance to verticillium wilt and higher yields.
Research breakthrough
1985
In 1985 Jerome partnered with Dr. Richard Garber at UC-Davis to perform clinical trials on his new variety. The trial confirmed p. Integerrima superior resistance to verticillium wilt.
A push for permanent crops
Mid
1980
During the 1980s, corporate and private family farms began to switch from row crops (such as cotton and alfalfa) to permanent crops (such as almonds and pistachios) due to the higher income. Many growers that did not make the switch to permanent crops went out of business due to the increasing production costs.
UCB-1 was born
1988
UC Davis introduced a verticillium wilt resistant variety called UCB-1 in 1988. Jerome Kresha was the first to introduce UCB-1 to Kern County, California growers. He developed the first protocols to germinate and grow UCB-1 seed and UCB-1 seedlings into container plants for other large corporate farms and commercial pistachio nurseries.
The serendipitous variety
1990
During the 1990s it was becoming more difficult for corporate and family farms to find class 1 ground that was well suited to p. Integerrima. As a result, pistachio investors had to purchase class 2 ground. Within a few years, they found that UCB-1 trees performed better in class 2 grounds with soils that had higher alkalinity, higher salt, and colder temperatures. During this time growers preferred UCB-1 rootstock.
UCB-1 Rapid Growth
Late
1990s
In the late 90s, UCB-1 rootstock was fast becoming the household pistachio variety for growers who could only acquire class 2 soil. UCB-1 rootstock could be planted in challenging soils and cold environments which worked well due to the dwindling availability of class 1 soil in California.
p. Integerrima rootstock, on the other hand, continued to be planted in class 1 and higher grade class 2 soils because of its proven history of success and higher yields.
UCB-1 Prominence
Mid
2000s
By the mid-2000s, UCB-1 rootstock took over 90% of the industry due to its proven hardiness.
Proven success with age
2015
In 2015, yield reports started to show that 18-25 year-old p. Integerrima plantings (Kresha KN-2) yielded about 5,200 pounds on average. The maximum yields topped out at 7,000 pounds.
UCB-1 on the other hand produced about 3,800 pounds on average, with maximum yields topping out at 4,200 pounds.
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By 2015, about 97% of all growers were planting UCB-1 regardless of the success of its predecessor, p. Integerrima.
What does the future hold?
2020
At the Brown Bag Seed Company, we believe our p. Integerrima and UCB-1 rootstocks are both outstanding varieties. We take a hands-on approach with all of our growers to get them the best variety based on their soil and growing conditions. We aim to maximize the yields and longevity of the investment in our pistachio rootstock varieties.