Celebrity chef Martin Yan appeared at the National Garlic Festival in Fresno. Photo via National Garlic Festival Facebook

The American Pistachio Growers will bring a bit of celebrity flavor to their team after naming world-renowned chef Martin Yan as a new global brand ambassador Sunday.

The announcement comes prior to the Pistachio Industry Annual Conference hosted in Carlsbad, California Feb. 27. At the event, Yan will be featured in a workshop showcasing his trademark Kung Pao Chicken with pistachios to more than 1,000 pistachio farmers.

Last year, Yan made an appearance at the National Garlic Festival in Fresno where he hosted cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend event.

Yan, one of the most recognizable Chinese Americans in mass media, will aim to expand pistachio usage to consumers and culinary professionals by leading cooking demonstrations, as well as participating in media events and engaging with consumers on social media.

“Singing the praise of American-grown pistachios comes to me naturally,” Yan said. “Their rich taste, texture, nutritional value and beautiful pistachio-green color make pistachios the perfect ingredient for any global cuisine.”

Yan has worked on more than 3,500 culinary and travel TV shows in addition to authoring 32 cookbooks. He also owns several restaurants in North America and Asia, and serves as culinary ambassador for Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China.

A repeat James Beard Award winner, Yan was presented the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

“Through our various international media events, Yan has already reached more than 2.5 billion consumers in Asia, demonstrating how pistachios grown in the American West enhance any cuisine’s flavor and nutritional profile,” said Haiying Zhang, Director of Asian Markets for American Pistachio Growers.