The McGinn family started their 90 acre pistachio orchard in 1980. Today, the orchard contains over 12,500 trees. Fourteen acres of grapes are also grown at Pistachio Tree Ranch and 18 different varieties of wine are made at McGinn's Arena Blanca Winery on site.
In 2008 a memorial to the founder, Thomas McGinn, was built. It is a 30 foot pistachio monument and is the World's Largest Pistachio. This little slice of New Mexico desert was Tom's canvas to create his legacy, his tireless dedication to his dream made his farm the success it is today. Tom dreamed big, expected big, and accomplished big things. He would have said this monument is not big enough. His legacy lives on.
The McGinn's operate two country stores with pistachios, pistachio candies and wines all grown and made on site. They also offer gourmet foods, souvenirs, t-shirts and ice cream. Guests are able to shop, tour the orchard, enjoy free samples of wine and pistachios, and of course, get their picture taken with the World's Largest Pistachio. Timothy and his wife live in a small house on the farm and work the farm daily.
We took a tour of the farm, which was very informative as to how the McGinns started the pistachio farm and vineyards. One thing we learned about pistachios is that they are only grown in three states - California, Arizona, and New Mexico. They need the arid, desert climate to survive. They were brought here from Central Asia and the Middle East where they grow as a bush. To turn them into a tree, the stalk is grafted onto a type of pine tree which turns into the truck. The trees grow up to 12 feet tall, and can live for years. A tree produces about 10 pounds of pistachios per year. There are 18 female trees to one male tree. It is only the female that produces the nuts, and the trees are planted with the prevailing wind so that the male tree's flowers pollinate the female tree's flowers. They only grow the nuts in the summer and by fall they sit dormant until the next growing season. The pistachio is a member of the cashew family.
Pistachios have a lot of calories because they are rich in fats and other nutrients. They have many vitamins from B-complex, Vitamin E and Vitamin K, as well as many minerals. The fats that pistachios contain are good for our health, and they can actually help to lower our cholesterol and raise the good one. Eating pistachios regularly will help your heart stay healthy, improve digestion and also help diabetes. Pistachios are good for your skin and contain antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals in the body, which can cause cancer and heart issues.
They contain iron and copper so are an excellent food source for those with low iron levels. Maybe because of its iron supply, pistachios were considered as a symbol of strong health in ancient times, and that's why athletes are advised to consume them regularly.
The McGinn's operate two country stores with pistachios, pistachio candies and wines all grown and made on site. They also offer gourmet foods, souvenirs, t-shirts and ice cream. Guests are able to shop, tour the orchard, enjoy free samples of wine and pistachios, and of course, get their picture taken with the World's Largest Pistachio. Timothy and his wife live in a small house on the farm and work the farm daily.
We took a tour of the farm, which was very informative as to how the McGinns started the pistachio farm and vineyards. One thing we learned about pistachios is that they are only grown in three states - California, Arizona, and New Mexico. They need the arid, desert climate to survive. They were brought here from Central Asia and the Middle East where they grow as a bush. To turn them into a tree, the stalk is grafted onto a type of pine tree which turns into the truck. The trees grow up to 12 feet tall, and can live for years. A tree produces about 10 pounds of pistachios per year. There are 18 female trees to one male tree. It is only the female that produces the nuts, and the trees are planted with the prevailing wind so that the male tree's flowers pollinate the female tree's flowers. They only grow the nuts in the summer and by fall they sit dormant until the next growing season. The pistachio is a member of the cashew family.
They contain iron and copper so are an excellent food source for those with low iron levels. Maybe because of its iron supply, pistachios were considered as a symbol of strong health in ancient times, and that's why athletes are advised to consume them regularly.
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ReplyDeleteGood work.
Pistachio Orchard for Sale California