Letter from the Publisher: “The Pecan Rabbit Hole”

Well, I fell down the rabbit hole and landed in a pecan orchard. After almost 20 years in the pecan industry, my husband and I took the leap and purchased a small place in Central Texas. The land currently has both native and improved variety pecan trees on it, and we are in the planning stages to plant more. This means we are in a position many pecan growers find themselves in—researching what varieties to plant, looking at the market implications of what we choose, exploring the management practices we’ll put in place, and so on. I know all too well that because pecans are a permanent crop, these decisions will have long-term effects, which makes these decisions even more daunting. Luckily and not surprisingly, I have been reading Pecan South all these years, so I have a wonderful encyclopedia of information from our many skilled contributors. Helpful hint—our website, PecanSouthMagazine.com, has issues going back many years! 

Of course, even with all the knowledge and planning in the world, things might not go the way we want. This past year was tough for so many, and not just for those in the pecan industry. High inputs, lower prices, changing markets, and adverse weather conditions all brought added challenges to even those with well-constructed plans. Taking all that into consideration, I am still optimistic because we have a product that consumers want with growth opportunities in the domestic and foreign markets. There is still considerable work to be done to take pecans past the pie and holidays and into year-round markets while bringing value to the entire supply chain. And that only happens when the industry works together. I recently heard someone in the industry say that to see improvements, we must focus outward to advance the market and not cannibalize ourselves by focusing inward. Simply said, I agree, and looking back at industry proceedings since 1921, these efforts and improvements are long overdue. 

Last but not least, each year, I want to take the time to thank the pecan producers and processors who create this fantastic product, as well as those taking the time to lead the industry. We also need to take a moment to thank those who bring goods and services to the industry, providing resources for producers and supporting industry events and efforts. 

The March issue starts a new volume each year, and I hope you enjoy Volume 57. Don’t worry, I will be reading along with you as I fall deeper into that pecan rabbit hole, which frustratingly isn’t a tool that will help with the digging and planting of new trees.  

Sincerely,

Blair Krebs 

Publisher