Permedah’s pistachios go nuts

MAKING its way onto menus worldwide, and part of the biggest online foodie-trends for 2025, demand for the pistachio is helping to drive ongoing success for a Riverland grower.

Come February, third generation Paringa-based grower, and operator of Permedah Fruits, James Simpfendorfer, will begin to harvest his 2025 pistachio crop, with the nut — thanks to the viral TikTok phenomenon of Dubai Chocolate — arguably more in demand than ever.

“When pistachios were first grown in Australia it was to replace overseas imports,” Mr Simpfendorfer said.

“While Australian production had gone up, consumption was not being met by our volumes — however, demand has increased recently which is great.”

Created four years ago from a food scientist’s pregnancy craving, Dubai Chocolate — a milk chocolate bar filled with pistachio-tahini cream and chopped filo-pastry kadyif — has gone viral this year on the social media platform TikTok, after videos of influencers enjoying the colourful and crunchy treat began an online trend.

“This (uptake) has been seen more so in the sale of kernels, rather than the shell,” Mr Simpfendorfer said.

“It’s the first time we have seen pistachios in such a big food trend, so it’s been great to see.”

However, though an exciting shift in the market, Mr Simpfendorfer said Permedah Fruits had been “going well and steady” regardless of the sudden viral demand.

“The youngest trees are growing well, with only some not big enough to go to production, and crops have increased — so everything is going good,” he said.

“Typically, we have ‘off’ and ‘on’ years with the trees, but last year — which was an ‘off’ year — produced our biggest harvest yet, so we’re definitely looking forward to (the 2025) crop.”

Though most farmers have faced strife with the recent drought, given the pistachio tree’s love for a desert climate — holding a middle eastern origin — the recent season has worked in Permedah Fruits’ favour.

“If they don’t get enough chill stress over, the trees can ‘sleep in’, and — given that they are wind pollinated — the (dioecious) trees can ‘wake’ at different times, and miss a planned pollination,” Mr Simpfendorfer said.

“So, weather conditions have been great for us.

“However, pistachios do need a lot of water, and have fertiliser kept up — so we definitely need the river there and healthy.”

Mr Simpfendorfer said the majority of his pistachios were sold domestically, however, Permedah Fruits were considering international opportunities.

“We have sold overseas, and our parent sale company is currently receiving a good number of relationships and interested buyers,” he said.

“So, looking at our production curve increasing as new planting comes in, it looks like we will need to export, unless Australia continues to dramatically increase their consumption.”

Looking to the future, Mr Simpfendorfer said Permedah Fruits still have a few hectares of young trees to come into production.

“Hopefully, at that full production, it will be enough to keep us all busy and happy,” he said.