Sacramento &mdash U.S. growers expect to harvest about 350 million pounds of pistachios this year, but not until mid-September, several weeks later than average, the California Farm Bureau reports.

According to the Western Pistachio Association, a cool spring and summer have caused the delay and farmers are anticipating a jump in the annual nut yield as increased plantings were widespread in 2009.

The association does caution, however, that insects can cause damage to a later-than-average harvest.