If you’re a fan of nuts, you know several varieties around, and among these nuts are pistachios. Pistachios are one of the popular varieties since they are packed with nutrients and flavor. Thus, many people enjoy it, but one thing you’ll note is that they can be pretty expensive compared to other nuts. Thus, you may ask:
Why are pistachios so expensive? Pistachios are so expensive not because of the high demands. Instead, these nuts are expensive because there’s a lot of time, effort, and resources needed to produce them. In short, the high price of pistachios is the added cost of farming, labor, and process.
All in all, nuts vary in price, and while some are cheaper, pistachios belong to the expensive types. So while you may think of finding other nut alternatives, you may also wonder why it’s so expensive and if it’s truly worth the price.
In this article, you’ll read through the three common reasons pistachios are so expensive. With this information, you can understand why they get the steep price and if they are worth buying.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
Are pistachios expensive?
Yes, pistachios are expensive. In general, you can find several varieties of nuts, and
Some nuts are far more expensive than others, and pistachios are certainly among the most expensive type of nuts out there. However, it’s not because of high demand. Instead, the high price has more to do with the costs of making and selling pistachios.
Why are pistachios so expensive?
Pistachios are expensive for several reasons, and three of these are farming, labor, and processing. So let’s take a look at each one!
Farming Costs
Pistachios are also expensive due to the difficulty of farming them. For pistachio trees to grow, they require various things, such as water and fertile land.
Moreover, harvesting pistachios is a labor-intensive process. For pistachio farmers, labor is also an expensive expense. This is because pistachios must be sorted by hand. Each nut is used to its full potential in this way.
Environment for growth
It takes a particular climate and plenty of time for pistachio trees to take root and thrive. Pistachio trees require sweltering summers and cool winters without freezing.
Nevertheless, the trees still need to survive for 20 years under ideal conditions to bear fruit.
As temperatures rise and significant weather events become more frequent due to climate change, this becomes increasingly challenging.
In any case, only female trees produce nuts while male trees serve simply as pollinators. In addition, pistachio farmers must rotate their crops since they only produce a yield during alternating years.
Processing Costs
Pistachios are among the most expensive of all nuts. However, pistachios are expensive for a reason you might not expect. The problem is less about the demand for the bright green nuts and more about the complex and intensive labor required to grow and harvest them.
A lot of time, effort, and money went into producing that small bag of pistachios – whether shelled, dyed red, salted and roasted, or raw. So the price tag on pistachios is well-deserved, despite their high price.
How much do pistachios cost?
In general, pistachios costs around $20 for a bag that weighs a pound. This price is usually for retail prices of one to five bags.
If you’re buying around ten bags, you can get them for around $19 per pound or bag. If you’re buying around 15 bags and more, you may get these nuts for around $18 per bag.
In short, you can save a bit of money if you’re buying pistachios in bulk. However, even the bulk orders can be quite expensive.
Are pistachios worth the money?
Yes, pistachios are worth the money, especially since producers made it because they spent a lot of time, effort, and resources to produce every piece of pistachio nuts.
Despite the high price, these nuts are worth buying. But, of course, if you don’t like spending a lot of money, you can always opt for other alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about pistachios and their price. You can look below and see if it gives enlightenment to any of your concerns.
Why are Turkish pistachios so expensive?
Turkish pistachios are so expensive because they are better than other varieties. As a result, Turkish pistachios are one of the most expensive pistachio nuts you can get from the market.
This type of pistachio gives the sweetest and strongest taste among all types of pistachios. When roasted, you get to emphasize and increase this flavor.
Why are shelled pistachios so expensive?
Shelled pistachios can be so expensive because there are no shells in them. Thus, shelled pistachios are better since you only pay for the kernels themselves. Also, they are ready to eat, and you don’t have to take out the shell since they can also be challenging to remove.
In short, you can find a better deal by buying shelled pistachios despite being so expensive. While in-shell pistachios are cheaper, you also buy the shells that add weight, giving you fewer kernels.
Why are wonderful pistachios so expensive?
Wonderful pistachios are so expensive because of the brand’s markup price. Besides the price of pistachios themselves, the company adds more to the costs since they have their manufacturing and processing costs.
The company also boasts of better-quality pistachios, so they get to charge more for their nuts.
Summary
In a nutshell, the high price of pistachios is not due to the high demand. Generally, these nuts are costly because there is a lot of work, effort, and resources that manufacturers must produce them. There are many reasons why the price of pistachios is so high. Pistachios are a product of agriculture, labor, and processing.
On the whole, nuts vary significantly in price, and while some are more affordable than others, pistachios are among the more expensive nuts. So if you are thinking about finding other nut alternatives, you may also wonder why the price is high and if the product is worth the cost.
Also Read:
- Why Are Nuts So Expensive?
- Why Are Pine Nuts So Expensive?
- Why Are Cashews So Expensive?
- Why Are Macadamia Nuts So Expensive?
- Why Are Brazil Nuts So Expensive?
Resources
Image credits – Canva
