Fresno-based American Pistachio Growers has partnered with 24 locally owned restaurants for its annual Pistachio Week promotion. Photo via American Pistachio Growers

The Fresno-based American Pistachio Growers is partnering with locally owned restaurants as part of its fourth-annual “Pistachio Week” Aug. 11-17.

The annual event is held to celebrate the pistachio harvest in the Central Valley, and for local chefs to highlight “the flavor, nutrition and versatility of American-grown pistachios.”

More than two dozen Central California restaurants are taking part in the event.

William Bourdeau, pistachio grower and American Pistachio Growers board member, said as the event has grown, participants have branched out beyond fine dining.

For instance, popular Fresno ice cream shop Ampersand is a participant this year.

In an interview with CBS 47, Bourdeau said the event is also a chance for growers to share what makes them passionate about pistachios. 

“Farmers historically haven’t done a very good job of marketing ourselves,” he said. “We have a wonderful story and I think we need to tell our story because it’s such a good one.”

Participating restaurants include School House Restaurant & Tavern in Sanger, Elbow Room Bar & Grill in Fresno, Harris Ranch Resort in Coalinga, Trelio in Clovis, Fugazzis in Visalia, Tulare, Hanford and Kingsburg and Modernist craft cocktail bar in Downtown Fresno.

La Piazza Ristorante Italiano in Tulare shared several of their Pistachio Week dishes on social media. They include a pistachio-crusted chicken Milanese, pistachio gorgonzola butter on filet mignon with a side of asparagus and potatoes, pistachio-crusted halibut finished with lemon butter beurre blanc and veggies and a ground-chicken-and-pistachio-stuffed manicotti with Alfredo sauce.

Pistachio Week extends beyond the Central Valley. Cafe Fina in Monterey is serving prawns sauteed in house-made pistachio pesto served over penne pasta.

American Pistachio Growers is a nonprofit trade association that represents 830 grower members in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

California’s pistachio acreage has increased nearly fivefold in the last two decades, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pistachios were the No. 6 most valuable crop in California for 2023, with nearly $3 billion in sales.