Newly announced Chinese tariffs will raise prices on many U.S. crops. How will that affect American farmers? NPR's Mary Louise Kelley spoke with Jim Zion, a Californian nut distributor, to find out.
Tree crops like pistachios, peaches and almonds need a certain amount of cold weather every year. But scientists say that California's climate may become too warm for them to grow there.
Iran is historically known for its pistachios. With sanctions against Iran lifted, its growers are free to sell in the U.S. Iranian nuts haven't flooded the U.S. yet — but that could soon change.
This year, as many as 50 percent of the pistachios harvested in California could be hollow inside. Blame it on drought, heat and weather changes that are messing with male trees' virility.
