In 1991, the Zannon family began Santa Barbara Pistachios with the goal of producing the best-tasting, all-natural organic pistachios available.
Santa Barbara Pistachios are grown on our family farm in the hills of the Sierra Madre Range in Santa Barbara County at an altitude of 2,900 feet. This perfect high-desert climate of sunny days and cool, clear nights is almost identical to the pistachio’s native climate in the Middle East. And this climate is also perfect for growing organically, without pesticides or fungicides.
Today, as the only locally-owned and family-managed organic pistachio farm on the Central Coast of California selling its own product, Santa Barbara Pistachios control every phase of production, from planting, farming and harvesting to brine flavoring, hot air-roasting and hand-packaging. This allows us to guarantee that not only our pistachios are certified organic, but that all ingredients used in our flavored pistachios are also certified organic.
Known as the “Original Home of the Flavored Pistachio,” Santa Barbara Pistachios has developed a unique process for roasting and flavoring our high-quality nuts. The result? All-natural, Kosher certified, cholesterol-free, gluten-free Certified Organic U.S. Fancy Grade pistachios that have a delicate crunch and distinctive flavor. Still a small family enterprise in these modern times of corporate high-tech agribusiness, Santa Barbara Pistachios is owned and operated by Gene and Gail Zannon with their sons Tristan and Josh in charge of production and farming the 380 acres of pistachio trees. At Santa Barbara Pistachios, quality does grow on trees.
Today, our goal remains to produce the best Organic All-Natural Pistachios available direct from the farm, at local farmer’s markets, and from many natural fine food purveyors. Naturally tree-ripened, “fancy grade” Santa Barbara Pistachios are brined with 100% natural Organic ingredients to saturate the nuts with gourmet flavor. To ensure maximum freshness, our pistachios are then hot air-roasted in small batches daily. Because the air temperature never rises above 160 degrees during our hot-air roasting, our nuts retain their natural oils where much of their sweet flavor is derived. We enhance this natural flavor by lightly salting the pistachios or adding a hint of savory flavor. Because we are a small operation, we have the ability to be attentive to the slow, careful technique necessary to produce crunchy, great tasting, all-natural pistachios.
Other nut companies tend to over-roast their pistachios leaving them tasteless and bland. Some even bleach or add dyes to their pistachios to remove or cover up blemishes on the outer-shell. Others add chemical flavorings, additives, and preservatives, sometimes even leaving them inedible for vegans and vegetarians.
Not Santa Barbara Pistachios! Our Fancy Grade Organic Pistachios are healthy for snackers and vegetarians alike. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber, pistachios are one of the healthiest nuts with no cholesterol or trans fats—and they are gluten-free! We are proud to list only all-natural whole ingredients on the front of our bags of nuts.
From our farm to your home, it is our mission to offer you “the taste of freshness” in every bag of Santa Barbara Pistachios. We are so sure that you’ll agree we back our pistachios with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.