London, England —The collective uproar heard from three western states this afternoon came from pistachio growers who cheered for the USA Water Polo women’s team when they won the Olympic gold medal. The win was a victory not only for the USA, but for the growers themselves, as their nuts have been the “Official Snack” of USA Water Polo and fueled their diets over the past year, even quelling their hunger during their stay in the Olympic Village.
“Our growers have come to know the USA Water Polo team members since we began working with them a year ago,” said Judy Hirigoyen, director of global marketing for American Pistachio Growers (APG), the trade association that represents growers in California, Arizona and New Mexico. “We sponsored their nutrition training so they could better understand how to make a snack work toward their Olympic dreams. For the past several days we’ve had growers alternately checking their crops for the upcoming harvest and the USA Water Polo scores.”
Celebrating the news of the gold medal, pistachio grower Brian Watte of Tulare, Calif., said, "That's fantastic. We are so excited that they went all the way. We knew they were winners all along. We're so proud of them and proud that they're APG brand ambassadors."
It was the first ever Olympic gold medal for the team, defeating Spain 8-5 in the Championship match. Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo) scored five goals to lead Team USA on offense while Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) posted eight saves, including a penalty shot stop, to anchor the defense. Steffens and Armstrong were both named to the Olympic All-Star Team with Steffens leading the tournament in scoring with 21 goals. The gold medal is now added to a collection that includes two silver medals (2000, 2008) and a bronze medal (2004).
The USA Water Polo Team players are part of the American Pistachio Growers’ “Power of Pistachios” campaign, inspiring everyone to stay fit and snack on the nutritious nut.
Pistachios have nutritional benefits that are particularly beneficial to athletes and fitness enthusiasts, according to Becci Twombley, Director of Sports Nutrition for USC.
“Water polo is one of the most intense sports that involves both endurance and strength,” says Twombley. "Six hours of training in the pool every day and a sound nutritional program prepares them for competition and supports recovery between practice sessions and events. Pistachios have a combination of phytonutrients that would be very helpful to world-class athletes.”
Members of the USA Water Polo team will be making personal appearances throughout California, Arizona and New Mexico upon their return to the United States.
Pistachio Facts
Pistachios are a naturally cholesterol-free snack that contains just 1.5 grams of saturated fat and 13 grams of fat per serving, the majority of which comes from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. A one-ounce serving of pistachios equals 49 nuts, which is more nuts per serving than any other snack nut. One serving has as much potassium (300 mg, 8 percent) as an orange (250 mg, 7 percent), along with 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber making it a nutritious snack choice or ingredient to incorporate into daily diets.
About American Pistachio Growers
American Pistachio Growers (APG) is a voluntary trade association representing members who are pistachio growers, processors and industry partners in California, Arizona and New Mexico. These states represent 100% of the domestic commercial pistachio production. APG pistachios are the “Official Snack” of both USA men’s and women’s water polo teams and Miss California. For more information, visit http://www.AmericanPistachios.org and follow on Twitter @PistachioPower.
Source: American Pistachio Growers
