By Kyler Liston
I run Piñon Pine Nuts as a wholesaler and retailer of American pine nuts. This is my family’s story.
By Kyler Liston
I run Piñon Pine Nuts as a wholesaler and retailer of American pine nuts. This is my family’s story.
The Liston family’s journey with pine nuts began around 1922 with my great-grandpa Verdin. As a kid in Escalante, Utah, he and his family would head out into the mountains to gather hundreds of pounds of piñon, which they’d trade for flour. Verdin’s life was all about the outdoors—the mountains of Utah and Nevada were his home. Whether he was hunting, cutting down Christmas trees, or picking pine nuts, he was always connected to the land.
As time went on, Verdin’s two sons, Sherril (my grandpa) and Larry (my uncle), took over the family operation. They expanded things, hiring crews to help with the picking and building machines to process thousands of pounds a day. It’s always been a family business. While my grandpa was out harvesting pine nuts, my grandma would sell them from her home in Orem, Utah.
Growing up, my grandpa would be gone for months at a time during harvest season, but every year my dad would take us out for a few days. I don’t know why, but I loved it. Maybe it’s in my blood—driving in the back of the truck, eating greasy food from a frying pan, surrounded by nothing but sagebrush for miles. When I turned 18, I started going out for weeks at a time. Now, I’m fully involved, working side by side with my grandpa and uncle.
We love our family, we love hard work, and we love pine nuts. This business is more than just what we do—it’s who we are.
Years of Sustainable Harvesting
Piñon Pine Nuts is dedicated to offering the finest American pine nuts, carefully harvested from the pinon groves of the Southwest. Drawing on knowledge passed down through generations, the company blends traditional methods with a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Handpicked directly from the wild, ensuring the freshest, naturally ripened pine nuts every season.
Harvested using sustainable methods that respect the environment and preserve the balance of nature.
Proudly grown and gathered from American pinon groves, supporting local communities and traditions..