Nonpareil commands a premium for its light color and smooth, attractive kernel — the benchmark for snacking and retail programs where appearance drives purchase decisions.
California type is a flexible classification covering multiple interchangeable varieties. For blanching, roasting, dicing, and ingredient applications where the skin is removed or the kernel is transformed, it often delivers the same finished result at a better cost basis.
The right choice comes down to application: pay for appearance where the consumer sees the kernel; buy on specification where the process transforms it.