Pecan Industry Votes to Continue Research and Promotion Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that pecan producers and importers voted to continue the American Pecan Promotion Board’s research and promotion program.

In the referendum held May 10 through June 10, 2024, 74.89 percent of pecan producers and importers voted in favor of continuing the program. This meets the requirement that the majority of those voting were in favor of the program continuing.

“The work to achieve this success started long before APPB was formed in 2021, and it is owed to the many hands who played a role in its creation and early years. I am so proud to have been a part of its trajectory for the past nine months. With this strong showing of votes in favor, it is clear the industry believes in the power of a unified marketing force,” says Anne Warden, CEO of the APPB, in an email blast to the industry.

“But the hard work to repay the industry’s faith and investment in us continues. I take this win as a message to keep our foot on the gas and do everything we can to grow the value of pecans,” she adds. “Thank you for your continued support!”

The Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order, which established the American Pecan Promotion program, requires USDA to conduct an initial referendum no later than three years after assessments are first collected. Subsequent continuance referendum will be conducted every seven years or at the request of 10% or more of all eligible pecan producers and importers.

More information about the program is on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) American Pecan Promotion Board webpage and on the American Pecan Promotion Board website.

The pecan research and promotion program is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The program was developed to strengthen the position of pecans in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for pecans, and develop new uses for pecans within the United States.