Back to December 2022

The American Pecan Council—Update and What’s to Come


Pecans from shell to pieces laid artfully on a counter. USDA's CFAP 2 will provide direct assistance to pecan growers and businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Quick Update on Marketing

The American Pecan Council continues to invest USDA Market Access Program funds in China and Germany. The APC International Committee recently concluded a research project that outlined ways of better developing India as a pecan-consuming nation. The APC hopes to align itself with a marketing representative in India to begin retail promotions in 2023.

The APC continues to conduct domestic marketing in two key areas in the United States. The first area is social media influencing to meet consumers where they are—scrolling through social media. On average, the APC deploys about 15 Instagram, Reels, and TikToks each month and reaches millions of followers.

The second area of significance is the APC efforts in the nutritional messaging space. The APC continues to nurture its Pecan Powerhouse Network, which currently has over 800 registered dietitians, nutritionists, and physicians who make up the member body of this effective collaborating forum of professionals. Members are well-versed in the nutritional benefits of pecans and share those benefits with their patients and clients. The Pecan Powerhouse Network will continue to grow in 2023.

Lastly, the APC plans to complete three areas of health research in late 2023. These health studies are being conducted by Penn State University, the University of Colorado, and the University of Georgia and are focused on satiety, cardiovascular health, and cholesterol. Keep an eye out for an update on the research studies in a future article.

APC 2022 Crop Year Reporting & 2021 Data Recap

Another crop year came to a close on Aug. 31, 2022, which means the Council has published the Year-End Inventory report for the 2021 crop year. The report shows roughly a 50% decrease in the net open position in the pecan industry from the previous year. The September 2022 pecan industry position report also shows a 31% decrease in total handler pecan inventory. The data working group under the American Pecan Council has focused on streamlining the layout and presentation of the industry reports to create a very efficient and transparent program. Some recent updates to the monthly reports include summary graphs for a quick industry snapshot. You can view all industry data reports on the American Pecan website. APC publishes these handler analytics monthly, which remains the only industry data source to be audited and verified.

Handlers continue to report monthly in the American Pecan Council’s reporting portal located at PecanPortal.com. The current 2022 crop year runs from September 2022 to August 2023. If you have any questions regarding reporting for APC, please reach out to the office at forms@americanpecan.com or call (817) 916-0020.

Voluntary Quality Assurance Program

The American Pecan Council has been developing a voluntary Quality Assurance Program. Earlier this year, APC conducted an industry-wide survey and public comment period to receive the industry’s feedback on the program. All the feedback and comments were gathered and incorporated into updates to the program. The working group under the APC for the voluntary QAP has reviewed the changes made to the program. The program will now move on for review by the Committee before being received for final review and approval by the Council in the March Council meeting. In the meantime, APC focuses on developing templates and resources to help with QAP participation. Once the Council approves the voluntary QAP, we will begin piloting the program across each region.

 New Council Members Seated

During the Nov. 3 Council meeting, the 2022-2026 Council members and alternates were seated. The full list of members and alternates can be found on page 57. A big welcome to the newly seated Council! The new officers are Larry Don Womack as Chairman, Deborah Ralls as Vice Chairwoman, Trent Mason as Secretary, and Lalo Medina as Treasurer. We want to thank the following individuals that served on the previous Council and were involved in the start of the Federal Marketing Order: Mike Adams, Buck Paulk, Les Daviet, Larry Willson, and Dan York.

The next American Pecan Council meeting is on March 21, 2023. As previously mentioned, there will also be a Pecan Congress held in conjunction with the meeting. All details will be posted on the American Pecan website under the Industry Events tab.

If you have not done so already, please register on the American Pecan website to receive updates from the Council.

Author Photo

The American Pecan Council

The American Pecan Council (APC) is a group of pecan growers and shellers who are dedicated to growing, harvesting, and processing America’s native nut. Founded in 2016 through a Federal Marketing Order, the APC’s mission is to promote the many benefits of the American Pecan and help tell its story. With oversight by the USDA, APC aims to build consumer demand, develop markets and establish industry standards. APC is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and funded by pecan handlers in 15 pecan-producing states. To learn more visit www.AmericanPecan.com.