…  California’s southern Central valley is a particularly popular spot for pistachio farming. The dryness of desert-like conditions during the summer months is no deterrent for the nut. … “Pistachios also don’t need the same high-quality water that something like almonds do,” said Darwin Inman, vice-president of sales and marketing at Horizon Nut Company. “They’re a fairly stout tree. They can get away with a little bit less quality of water, irrigation water.”…  The diminished need for water means that farmers have more readily embraced pistachios, including when it comes to the nut’s biggest rival, almonds, which generated nearly $4bn in California last year. More growers are opting to dedicate land to drought-tolerant pistachios over thirsty almond trees.