Though they learned much from researchers in the early years of California's pistachio industry, Pioneer Nursery owners Ken Puryear and Corky Anderson shaped the U.S. pistachio industry through the development of nursery rootstock and containers.

Today the nursery has several patented pistachio rootstocks, patented containers and a reputation for creating quality trees for an expanding pistachio industry.

Puryear and Anderson were also instrumental in the formation of pistachio marketing and trade associations that today includes the American Pistachio Growers, a voluntary trade association.