The 2024 Statewide Pistachio Day attracted over 600 attendees to the Visalia Convention Center on January 17, 2023. This annual event is designed to extend research conducted by University of California scientists to the growers, ranch managers, PCAs, and other members of allied industries, who translate the information into tangible practices affected production.

The 2024 meeting was hosted by Elizabeth Fichtner, Farm Advisor, UCCE Tulare County and David Haviland, Farm Advisor, Kern County. The event was divided into three sessions moderated by Jorge Angeles, Farm Advisor UCCE Tulare County, Tobias Oker, Farm Advisor UCCE Kern County, and David Haviland, Farm Advisor UCCE Kern County. Coffee, breakfast, and luncheon were sponsored by the California Pistachio Research Board and numerous corporate sponsors.

            Robert Klein, manager of the California Pistachio Research Board, provided updates from the California Pistachio Research Board on pistachio production and consumption. During the morning session, researchers from the University of California provided information on different aspects of pistachio culture including economics, climatic considerations, breeding, fertility, cover cropping, satellite remote sensing, and mechanical harvesting. The afternoon session focused on pest management issues, including disease and insect management, as well as nematode management.  Researchers discussed implementation of sterile insect technique for management of navel orangeworm, monitoring programs for leaffooted bug, insecticide programs for Gill's mealybug and insights on Carpophilus, a recently-identified pest in California. During the coffee and luncheon breaks, participants interacted with the sponsors hosting booths in the trade show area. The event concluded with a Pest Management Question and Answer session that facilitated conversation between researchers and the grower and PCA communities.