KH News Desk (cbdigital@imaws.org)
National, April 2023: India is a rapidly growing market for American pistachios as consumers here find out more about the health benefits of regularly consuming these delectable nuts.
The Indian office of American Pistachios Growers (APG), a non-profit trade association representing over 800 grower members in California, Arizona, and New Mexico in the United States, organized a virtual cook off titled “Jugalbandi” between two of the globally most respected and followed Chefs – Chef Martin Yan and Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. The two maestros came together live and weaved their magic with American pistachios on April 4, 2023.
The live cooking demo was attended by leading food & lifestyle media, lifestyle influencers, chefs, culinary students, and hundreds of fans from across India.
Chef Martin Yan is a global brand ambassador of American Pistachio Growers and has a career spanning over four decades. He has traveled around the world, sharing the best of Asian and American culture, food, and tips for personal enrichment with multiple generations of audiences. Chef Yan brings a diverse culinary expertise and award-winning experiences that span several continents. His grand vision is shaped from experiences working on over 3,500 culinary and travel TV shows, 32 cookbooks, and several restaurants in North America and Asia. His hugely popular show Yan Can Cook… So Can You has been going on for the last 44 years! For his efforts, Chef Yan has been awarded multiple James Beard Awards throughout his career, including the prestigious lifetime achievement award in 2022.
Speaking on the occasion Chef Martin Yan said “Singing the praise of American-grown pistachios comes to me naturally. Their rich taste, texture, nutritional value, and beautiful pistachio-green color make pistachios the perfect ingredient for any global cuisine, and certainly in my Asian dishes. “I’m excited to show food lovers around the world that they can cook like Yan with American pistachios!”
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is of course the most celebrated face of Indian cuisine. He has written over 150 cookbooks and received numerous culinary awards, including the Padma Shri Award in 2017 and the National Award for Best Chef of India. He also launched the first food channel, Food Food, and hosted the popular Khanna Khazana show for over 17 years. Chef Kapoor is highly regarded both in India and abroad and is ranked among the top most trusted 100 Indians.
Speaking on the occasion Chef Sanjeev Kapoor said “Pistachios are not new for Indians. However, we have been using them mostly as a garnish on Mithais, Biryani’s etc. It is only in the last few years that Indians have started to snack on pistachios and American pistachios stand out because of their quality, consistency, and food safety. They are also one of my favorite ingredients to work with in the kitchen and add a unique flavor, texture, and nutritional value to any dish. Whether you are using them in a savory dish or a dessert, American pistachios are a versatile and flavorful ingredient and I highly recommend trying in your cooking.”
Mr. Sumit Saran, Indian representative of APG moderated the session and said that, “India is a growth market for American pistachios. India itself does not produce any pistachios. However, as awareness about pistachios and its health benefits increase, we are seeing continuous growth in demand for American pistachios.”
American pistachios are easily available on all major e-commerce platforms or with major dry fruit retailers across India. You can find them by simply searching or asking for “California pistachios” and choose from the many brands that sell them in India.
About American Pistachio Growers
American Pistachio Growers is a non-profit trade association representing more than 865 growers, member processors and industry stakeholders in California, Arizona and New Mexico. More details and a compendium of the global research can be found at www.AmericanPistachios.in