Letter from the Editor: “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Dear Readers, Each day new pecans fall from the trees and enter barns and warehouses across the Northern Hemisphere. Elsewhere in the world, trees bloom with catkins and flowers and new growth, readying next year’s crop. As the season continues here in the United States and Mexico, we celebrate another harvest and give thanks for......
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Letter from the Editor: “Our Annual Harvest Photo Contest returns!”
Dear Readers, Harvest is in full swing! Growers across Texas, Oklahoma, and the Southeast are shaking trees and bringing in new nuts. While some growers enter their orchards with hope and optimism, others prepare for a difficult season and work to recover. Climate-related hardships have impacted pecan growers across the country—extreme heat and severe drought...
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September 2023 Letter from the Editor: “Industry Crop Estimates”
Dear Reader, Harvest is upon us! This month growers throughout the Pecan Belt will start shaking trees and bringing in their 2023 crop. Industry groups have released their crop estimates in anticipation of this crop year. The Ben Littlepage Memorial Guesstimate from the TriState Pecanference was released in June, while the Texas Pecan Growers Association...
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August 2023 Letter from the Editor: “Stay Informed with Pecan South”
Dear Reader, Extreme heat continues to plague the Pecan Belt as we push further into the season and prepare for harvest. Leading up to harvest, growers across the Northern Hemisphere check their trees and monitor kernel development. Shellers and buyers track their inventory and prepare new contracts and sales. And everyone prays for rain and...
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July 2023 Letter from the Editor: “Another Reason to Love Pecan Trees”
Dear Readers, There’s an excessive heat warning for Texas. Currently, it is 101 degrees Fahrenheit with a feel-like temperature of 111 degrees F. Please note—I’m writing this the second to last week of June. We haven’t even reached August yet! I’ve told the rest of the Pecan South staff that Midwestern winters sound pretty good...
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Letter from the Editor: “Get More Pecan South”
Dear Reader, The pecan industry’s conference season picks up this month, with industry groups meeting across the Pecan Belt. In the coming weeks, pecan growers will gather for the TriState Pecanference and the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Conference for orchard tours, educational programs, and camaraderie. Then in late July, the Texas Pecan Growers Association hosts its...
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The AgriStress Helpline: A Resource Made for Ag
For 24/7 mental health support in English or Spanish, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free helpline at 800-662-4357. For the AgriStress Helpline, call or text 833-897-2474. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Drought, dismal prices, pest infestations, and...
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Letter from the Editor: “How have you been?”
Dear Readers, How’ve you been? What’s on your mind? I’ve been doing pretty good. Creating this edition was somewhat stressful, simply because we just wrapped up our consumer magazine, Pieces of Pecan, but overall, it went better than I thought and we met deadline. May is Mental Health Month. It’s time for us to check...
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Letter from the Editor: “Happy National Pecan Month!”
Dear Readers, April means it’s time to celebrate our favorite nut. Happy National Pecan Month! We can use these next four weeks to highlight pecans’ tremendous health benefits, unique flavor, and versatility with friends, family, and customers. It’s also a time for us to connect with fellow industry members and focus on a new growing...
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NPF Spurs Funding Success for Pecan Research Efforts
Within the last four years, industry efforts led by the National Pecan Federation have obtained an additional $17 million in funding for the USDA-ARS pecan program and stations in Byron, Georgia; Brownwood, Texas; and Somerville, Texas. These industry efforts to obtain additional funding for the USDA-ARS pecan program have allowed for expanded research to benefit...
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Letter from the Editor: “Dad’s Hands”
Dear Readers, I am excited to announce the winner of our fourth annual Harvest Photo Contest—“Dad’s Hands,” taken by Lindsay Holcomb. Lindsay entered this photo of her father Joe Thomas after harvest hoping to surprise him. “Harvesting pecans is something I grew up doing with my dad in Atoka and Bryan County, Oklahoma. We are...
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A “Nutty Hobby” Becomes an Award-Winning Pecan Orchard
What’s the secret to growing the perfect pecan? Or, more importantly, what’s the management trick to producing high-quality pecans year after year? For decades—if not centuries—pecan growers have sought answers to this complex question, and researchers have wrestled with uncovering the management practices that will lessen alternate bearing and bring the industry closer to producing...
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Letter from the Editor: “No Time Like the Present”
Dear Readers, Happy New Year! I hope 2023 is treating you well so far. This time of year often revolves around the future. Although we reflect on the past year, we spend so much energy and time on what’s to come. We set resolutions, create yearly goals, and dream of how this year may differ...
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Letter from the Editor: “Happy Holidays!”
Dear Readers, The holidays always bring forth a time of reflection on our lives, our work over the past year, and what’s to come. We capture moments of joy and fun while celebrating the obstacles we overcame and contemplating the challenges we faced. This December harvest continues through the Pecan Belt, and growers and industry...
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Raptor Ag’s Giant Leap into Pecan Growing
During the first two months of 2022, a company in Oklahoma conducted a massive undertaking: planting 100,600 pecan trees within five weeks on 1,040 acres. Funded by investors, Raptor Ag made its foray into pecans with the goal of going further than any grower before. “I’ve been around for a while, and [when] they told...
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Letter from the Editor: “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Dear Readers, Each day new pecans fall from the trees and enter barns and warehouses across the Northern Hemisphere. Elsewhere in the world, trees bloom with catkins and flowers and new growth, readying next year’s crop. As the season continues here in the United States and Mexico, we celebrate another harvest and give thanks for...
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Letter from the Editor: “Our Annual Harvest Photo Contest returns!”
Dear Readers, Harvest is in full swing! Growers across Texas, Oklahoma, and most Southeast have started (or are just about to start) shaking trees and bringing in fresh pecans. And with harvest comes…you guessed it—Pecan South’s annual Harvest Photo Contest! For the fifth year, we invite you to enter photos of your orchard, harvest, or...
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APPB, APC Meet and Prepare for Upcoming Fiscal Year
The American Pecan Council and the American Pecan Promotion Board held general meetings on July 27 in Dallas, Texas, at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center. With the next fiscal year on the horizon, both meetings focused extensively on the upcoming budget and general housekeeping. The day started with the American Pecan Promotion Board...
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Letter from the Editor: “Rest is never selfish.”
Dear Readers, “Rest is never selfish.” I heard this phrase recently after a hard day at work. This phrase screamed out at me in a moment of quiet contemplation. When our schedules and lives become filled with tasks and lists and responsibilities, it is easy for us to get caught up in what we “must...
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Letter from the Editor: “Preparing for Harvest”
Dear Reader, Heat waves, droughts, gales, tropical storms—weather woes continue as we push further into the season and prepare for harvest. Leading up to harvest, growers across the Northern Hemisphere check their trees and monitor kernel development. Shellers and buyers track their inventory and prepare new contracts and sales. And everyone prays for rain and...
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July 2022 Letter from the Editor: “The Waiting Game”
Dear Readers, We’ve reached that time of year when we finally get a grasp on the coming crop. With about two months until harvest kicks off in the Northern Hemisphere, growers across the Pecan Belt monitor their developing pecans closely. Meanwhile, the industry shares state crop estimates from various growers’ associations. (Pecan South will publish...
Letter from the Editor: “Better Together”
Dear Readers, Conference season picks up again this month, with industry groups meeting in the central and southeast regions. In the coming weeks, pecan growers will gather for the TriState Pecanference and the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Conference for orchard tours, educational programs, and camaraderie. Then in early July, the Texas Pecan Growers Association hosts its...
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Letter from the Editor: “A Time of Possibilities”
Dear Readers, This month leaves expand and pecan pollination begins, signaling the onset of nut production and another crop. We’re in that transitional phase between spring and summer, between what could be and what is. In this in-between time, we still face the worries and concerns of yesterday, but we also harness great hope. And...
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Letter from the Editor: Let’s celebrate this National Pecan Month
Dear Readers, Happy National Pecan Month! We’ll be celebrating our favorite nut all month long and sharing its tremendous health benefits with friends, family, and customers. I also have some excellent pecan industry news that’ll make this month extra special for you. On page 8 of this Pecan South, you’ll find an article from the...
Q&A with Chefs after NPSA Culinary Workshop
With another harvest in the books, growers now prepare for a new growing season. Marketing and promoting pecans remains a major task for the industry, with several groups and organizations working together to share pecan’s health benefits and versatility with chefs, nutritionists, and consumers. The National Pecan Shellers Association hosted a Pecan Chef Culinary Workshop...
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Letter from the Editor: “Morning Shade”
Dear Readers, I am happy to announce the winner of our fourth annual Harvest Photo Contest—“Morning Shade,” submitted and taken by Lanessa and Matt Dowden. The Dowdens share a peaceful moment in their orchard, Calianna Pecan Farms, in Effie, Louisiana. Congratulations, Matt and Lanessa! Thank you for sharing this photo with us. Readers, you can...
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Letter from the Editor: “Welcoming 2022”
Dear readers, Happy New Year! We’ve made it to 2022. This past year low production strengthened the market and brought higher prices for many growers. But still, those prices are not enough to ease concerns for the coming 2022 crop and harvest. Industry members face rising input costs, continued logistics and labor issues, and much...
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A Quality Assurance Program and You
Consumers now more than ever are looking for further knowledge about their food. Food safety is a global expectation to do business, but that expectation has shifted to include sustainability as well. Customers want to know the company and people behind their food, understand its employee safety protocols, see the chemicals used when growing the...
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Letter from the Editor: “Happy Holidays!”
Dear readers, As we enter the holiday season, I like to reflect not on the difficulties of this past year but rather on the moments of joy. The market returned stronger, growers across the country reported higher crop quality, and some industry members gathered in person again. Although many challenges await us—as they always do—we...
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Letter from the Editor: “Thank you for your readership”
Dear Readers, Almost every year at this time I find myself wondering where all those days have gone. There’s no melancholy—usually just an observation that time passes so quickly we don’t even notice. This year feels different, though. The days continue to fly by as they do. But this year, much like 2020, has moved...
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Letter from the editor: Harvest Photo Contest
Dear readers, Across the United States and Mexico, producers shake trees, collect pecans, and prepare for a new crop. Shellers and buyers scour the market and make contracts, while retailers look to fill their inventories before the holiday season. With harvest now in full swing, Pecan South kicks off our annual Harvest Photo Contest. For...
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Letter from the Editor: The Pecan Newsletter is back
Dear Readers, Harvest is here. Once again, the pecan industry prepares to face this challenge head-on. Some growers in the central and southeastern regions will begin shaking trees and collecting early varieties in the next few weeks. Other producers, like those in the West, still have a while to go before they can harvest their...
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Pecan growers vote to keep the FMO, USDA announces
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Aug. 31 at the American Pecan Council annual meeting that eligible pecan growers voted to uphold the Federal Marketing Order (FMO) in the referendum. Because of this decision, the American Pecan Council will continue to be authorized by the FMO to regulate the handling of pecans, build...
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July 2021 Position Report shows declining inventory, steady exports
Giving insight into U.S. handlers’ recent movements, the American Pecan Council published its July 2021 Pecan Industry Position Report at the end of August. This report provided data on pecan exports, inventory, and availability for the current crop year while hinting at the state of the pecan market. The Federal Marketing Order requires U.S. handlers...
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Letter from the Editor: “Stay safe, stay cool”
Dear Readers, I made a mistake. A big one. A potentially dangerous one. You see, I forgot how hot it can be at 5:30 p.m. in late July in Southeast Texas. Earlier this week, I went for a run after work. While preparing to head out to run, I glanced at my weather app and...
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Letter from the Editor: “The more things change…”
Dear Readers, This past month I was very blessed to be able to travel to my first conference since before the pandemic. It was a surreal experience. In some ways, I could feel the year-and-a-half that had passed since my last industry conference. But in others, it felt like no time had passed at all. ...
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May 2021 Position Report shows pecans on the move
As eligible pecan growers across the United States cast their votes on the FMO, the American Pecan Council published its April and May 2021 Pecan Industry Position Reports over the last week. These most recent reports provide data on exports, inventory, and availability for the 2020/2021 crop year and add context to the current pecan...
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Vicki Lynn Pecans finds niche with pecans as a beauty food
Vicki Lynn Pecans in Colquitt, Georgia, began long before the first trees were planted. Mark Boatright approached his sister and brother-in-law, Lynn and Russ Henley, about purchasing land as a family investment. Looking for some type of agricultural investment, Lynn first followed a recommendation from the Farmers’ Almanac and decided to invest in pine trees....
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Letter from the editor: Harnessing your power
Dear Readers, Industry conferences pick back up this month as we all adjust to a new normal. The U.S. pecan industry is very blessed to be able to host events in person again. Although these trade shows and meetings won’t be exactly like they were in the past, they continue to provide us all with...
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Letter from the Editor: “The FMO referendum, helpful articles, and moving forward”
Dear Readers, As pecan trees continue to bud out, catkins and flowers follow, signaling the start of another nut set. Pollination and flowering also signal the beginning of a new growing season. This month we begin a new season filled with the same stresses and worries but also with the same hopes—a big crop, reasonable...
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How to cast your vote in the FMO referendum
The Agricultural Marketing Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a notice on April 13 that directed a referendum to be conducted among eligible pecan growers across the Pecan Belt “to determine whether they favor the continuation of the marketing order regulating the handling of pecans produced in the production area.” The FMO referendum...
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Letter from the Editor: Happy National Pecan Month
Dear Readers, Happy National Pecan Month! This month we get to celebrate our favorite nut and share its wonderful health benefits with friends, family, and customers. And on April 14, we get to enjoy National Pecan Day during National Pecan Month. Our April 2021 issue provides marketing insight, horticulture advice, and updates from the Federal...
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January 2021 Position Report Shows Post-Holiday Slump
The American Pecan Council published the January 2021 Pecan Industry Position Report at the end of February, adding further context to a turbulent crop year and providing data on exports, inventory, and availability. With harvest complete, pecan producers in the Northern Hemisphere prepare their orchards and businesses for the next crop. Hedging, planting new trees,...
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Letter from the Editor: Monarch Butterfly and Pecan
Dear Readers, I am happy to announce the winner of our third annual Harvest Photo Contest— “Monarch Butterfly and Pecans,” submitted by Jorge Jalife and taken by Vero Zertuche. Vero captured this magical moment at La Ximena Orchard in Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, Mexico. Congratulations, Jorge Jalife and Vero Zertuche! Thank you for sharing this photo...
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Letter from the Editor: “Hello 2021”
Dear Reader, Happy New Year! I pray for good health and safety for you and your family. We’ve finally said farewell to 2020, and though we’re not leaving our troubles behind, we’re moving forward. And as we enter 2021, I can’t help but think about one of my editing rules. It’s one I’ve developed over...
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October Position Report Shows More Pecans Available, Greater Inventory
Published last Wednesday, the October 2020 Pecan Industry Position Report from American Pecan Council edifies industry members on exports, inventory, and availability during a turbulent market year. At this time, pecan growers in the Northern Hemisphere are deep into harvest. Many finished shaking trees before Thanksgiving, while some wrap up their final rounds in early...
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Early Season Pecan Inventory Data Shows Rise and Fall
The American Pecan Council released its Year-End Inventory Report for the 2019 Crop Year alongside the Pecan Industry Position Report for September 2020 several weeks ago. These most recent pecan reports provide data on U.S. handlers’ inventory and shipments at the start of the 2020 harvest season. Amidst the ongoing battles against the coronavirus, pecan...
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Letter from the Editor: Holidays & the end of 2020
Dear readers, As we approach the end of 2020, we can take this time to reflect on the pecan industry and its perseverance through this difficult year. From terrible wildfires to devastating hurricanes and ice storms to the COVID-19 pandemic and a dismal market, 2020 has run the gambit on disasters and challenged each of...
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Holiday Trail Map Guides Customers to Pecans
As many growers rush to shake their trees and harvest their new crop this November, state growers associations and other industry organizations work to provide as much support as they can—whether that be by connecting producers to disaster relief and coronavirus aid or helping them find new ways to market their pecans. In its own...
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Letter from Editor: Happy Thanksgiving & Harvest
Dear readers, I’m dreaming of a Thanksgiving feast at the moment. Roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and, of course, pecans—in a pie, a casserole, or a snack mix. I’m counting down the days. Thanksgiving this year may look different than those in the past. Many of us won’t be able to celebrate with all of...
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Letter from the Editor: “Take Your Mind Off”
Dear readers, Harvest comes yet again to the Northern Hemisphere with loads of challenges—some new, some the same just slightly more difficult to bear. One challenge confronted by thousands of pecan growers throughout history is hurricanes. Growers in Louisiana endured Hurricane Laura at the end of August. Then, on Sept. 16, Hurricane Sally struck their...
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A Nonprofit Harvests Pecans, Helps Veterans
Near the small, West Texas town of Eldorado, a nonprofit transforms a small pecan orchard this harvest into a safe place for veterans with disabilities to find community, support, and employment. Superior Solutions and Services in Aging for Veterans, or 3SA for Veterans for short, is a 501(c) nonprofit charity in San Angelo, Texas, that...
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Two States, Two Storms, Devastation Abounds
While preparing for this harvest season, pecan producers in Louisiana and Alabama faced two devastating hurricanes. Growers in Louisiana endured Hurricane Laura at the end of August. Making landfall as a Category 4, Hurricane Laura is recorded as the strongest storm to hit Louisiana in 160 years. Yes, outpacing Hurricane Katrina and earning itself the...
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Letter from the Editor: Resources for Uncertain Times
Dear Readers, Harvest is upon us. Like every year, the pecan industry is rearing up to face the challenge head-on. Some growers in the central and southeastern regions are entering their orchards this month to shake trees and collect early varieties. Other producers, like those in the West, still have a while to go before...
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4 Questions to Consider When Introducing New Ag Tech
You have your technology plan—if you don’t, go read West Coast Nut’s “Preparing Your Orchard for Ag Tech”—and you’re ready to dive into some new tech this season to help you make your harvest and management the best and most efficient it has ever been. You’ve done the hard part and chosen which new technology...
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The Pecan Breeding Program Forms the Roots of Our Industry
Very much like the pecan tree itself, the roots of the pecan industry often get lost in the grand management scheme. Stretching back for generations, these roots provide stability, support, and the ability to grow taller, stronger, and more bountiful. The USDA Pecan Breeding Program and National Collection of Genetic Resources for Pecans and Hickories...
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Letter from the Editor: “Moving Forward”
Dear reader, It’s crunch time for many pecan growers across the United States and Mexico, and as we enter August, we head into one of the most crucial parts of the growing season: kernel development. Nut clusters hang heavy on pecan trees. Producers focus on perfecting their irrigation schedule and spray regimen. Shellers and handlers...
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Five Generations of Farming, First Generation With Pecans
Mark Friesenhahn has a problem. It was the first week of June and his ‘Wichita’ trees were sitting in muck. The tailings pond at the 6-month-old quarry across the railroad tracks north of his orchard broke. The break flooded a good portion of his orchard with tailings, which Friesenhahn describes as “water and clay materials...
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Letter from the Editor: “Thank you, George Ray McEachern!”
Dear Readers, If you’ve been reading Pecan South for at least a couple of months, you may have noticed that there’s one contributor whose name and articles appear between our pages without fail. Since 1987, Dr. George Ray McEachern has shared his pecan expertise and knowledge with us month after month, year after year, in...
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New Industry Data Shows More Pecans on the Move
American Pecan Council released its May 2020 Pecan Position Report at the end of June. This most recent report continues to reflect months of significant change as the coronavirus spread across the globe and many countries begin to exit lockdowns. At the same time, when compared to last year’s numbers, this report illustrates a year...
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Letter from the Editor: “Words From My Past Self”
Dear Readers, When I sat down to write this letter to you all, I admit I didn’t know what to say. Not to beat a dead horse, but we’re in a strange time. This summer won’t be filled with industry events and conferences; instead we’ll have webinars and virtual meet-ups. Even summer vacation does not...
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APC Approves Motion to Support R&P Board During April Call
The American Pecan Council met via conference call on April 22 for its first council meeting of 2020. The Council began the meeting with conducting regular housekeeping: approving the financials and minutes, accepting audited financials from the previous fiscal year, reviewing budget for this year, and approving the use of the same company—Eide Bailly, an...
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Letter from the Editor: Don’t Forget to Care for Yourself
Dear Readers, My new coworkers are rather interesting. There are two of them, and they often spend their mornings barking at anything and everything that they spy outside—people returning from their one walk for the day, birds diving down from the rooftop, or the solitary food delivery guy who hurries along with packages and wears...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “A Beacon of Hope”
Dear readers, So much can change in a month. By the time you received the March issue, our office was already starting on this April edition and the world had entered into a pandemic. COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, has taken over our lovely planet and we are all battling it in our own way—whether...
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House Passes COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the COVID-19 economic stimulus package today and sent it to President Donald Trump to enact. Supported by both Democrats and Republicans, the $2 Trillion stimulus package includes one-time cash payments to adults, emergency relief money for airports, public transportation and hospitals, up to four months of pay to laid-off...
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APC’s February Position Report Shows Early Effects of COVID-19 & Offers Hope
Released the week of March 23, the American Pecan Council’s February 2020 Pecan Industry Position Report provides insight into pecans’ movement throughout February and also shows the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While northern hemisphere growers spot their first buds and producers in the southern hemisphere enter the final phase of nut development, industry...
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Planting, Propagating, & Promoting Pecans in South Africa
Almost an hour’s drive outside of Kimberley, South Africa, the Vaalharts Storage Weir diverts water from the Vaal River and feeds it into the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme. Here marks the start of South Africa’s entire pecan industry. Without the Valhaarts Irrigation Scheme and this dam, the South African pecan industry wouldn’t exist as we currently...
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5 Tips for Getting Involved in the Industry
So, you’ve taken the first step. You decided to enter the pecan industry. Maybe that means you bought some pecan trees and have land to plant them on. Or perhaps you started shopping for materials to build a shelling and cleaning facility. But now what? After deciding to become a grower or sheller, you may...
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Growing Pecans & Growing an Industry in South Africa
“I almost didn’t recognize you!” Hardus du Toit, the Senior Technical Officer of the South African Pecan Nut Producers’ Association and our official guide to South Africa, exclaimed to me on the morning of SAPPA’s Annual General Meeting and Information Day. It was our second day in South Africa, and after a good night’s rest...
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Letter from the Editor: “Winner of Our 2nd Annual Photo Contest”
Dear Readers, The winner of our second annual Photo Contest has been chosen, and you saw their beautiful photo on the cover. For the second year in a row, Dan Shepherd of Shepherd Farms in Clifton, Missouri, submitted the winning picture. Congratulations, Mr. Shepherd, and thank you for sharing your photography talent with us! We...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Imagining the Next Decade”
Dear Reader, Happy New Year! Happy New Decade! Although I’m writing this in December of 2019, I imagine how I’ll feel when you all read this, and we’ve officially entered 2020. 2020—it sounds so strange. Can you believe it? This January provides us with a moment of reflection and preparation. As we enter into this...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Giving Thanks”
As we get closer to Thanksgiving, the Pecan South office always gets inundated with calls from consumers searching for fresh pecans. Unlike your typical consumer, these people don’t just look for pecans in their local grocery stores. No, they know the variety they want. They know the best time to buy America’s native nut. And...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Second Annual Harvest Photo Contest”
Dear Readers, At this time last year, we announced our first annual Harvest Photo Contest. The winner, Dan Shepherd, was featured on the cover of our February 2019 issue. His photo of his North Missouri farm cloaked in snow on a cold February morning wowed Pecan South readers and staff. This year we’re continuing this...
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GPGA’s 2019 Fall Field Day
Georgia pecan growers gathered at King Springs Pecans in Hawkinsville, Georgia on Sept. 5 for the Georgia Pecan Growers Association’s Annual Fall Field Day. There, they heard from the King Springs crew and owners, who talked about their management practices, “biblical stewardship,” and irrigation. Paul Quiros, one of the owners of King Springs Pecans studied...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Thank you, Bill Ree”
Dear readers, Last month, I brought you all behind the curtain and shared with you all the people who help make this magazine possible. This month I’d like to go a step further and thank one person in particular who has been an unwavering advocate for and contributor to this magazine. Thank you, Bill Ree....
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Preparing for coming Fiscal Year, the American Pecan Council holds its last meeting for 2019
The American Pecan Council met on Aug. 21—a day after the second Pecan Congress—for its last meeting this year the Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport in Dallas, Texas. “I don’t want the council or stakeholders to forget why we’re doing this,” APC Chairman Mike Adams said to open the meeting. “This whole effort was begun...
Read moreIndustry groups discuss issues and updates at second Pecan Congress in Dallas
The American Pecan Council gathered with state, regional, and national pecan organizations for the industry’s second Pecan Congress on Aug. 20 at the Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport in Dallas, Texas. Continuing a new annual tradition for the industry, this meeting provides an opportunity for all industry groups to come together, discuss issues, and share...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Going Behind the Curtain”
Dear Readers, A lot of work goes into these pages that you’re currently holding. Some of you may be thinking about the work I do for Pecan South—editing the articles, designing each issue, and partnering with our printer. But I’m not the only one who puts their heart and soul into every issue. There’s Blair...
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5 Tips to Prevent Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion
He had followed all the rules. He wore a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. He drank water—or so he thought. But that wasn’t enough. Jim Kepner still spent his Fourth of July in the hospital. A day earlier, Kepner—a pecan enthusiast from Friendswood, Texas—started his work in the morning to beat the unrelenting sun. He wore an...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “We are here to support you”
Dear Readers, As we all know and have witnessed, pecan growing is hard work. It takes blood, sweat, and tears mixed with a dash of ingenuity, a cup of know-how, and a pinch of good luck. This hard work has almost come to fruition. At this moment, pecan trees across the United States are working...
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APC’s Industry Position Report for May gifts the industry with more reliable information
The American Pecan Council released its Pecan Industry Position Report for May 2019 last night. This report marks the ninth monthly report for the 2018 crop. With each release, the American pecan industry develops a clearer picture of the market’s current state and the movement of pecans throughout the country and around the world. In the...
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Trump signs $19 billion disaster relief bill
After a long delay, President Donald Trump signed the $19 billion disaster relief bill early Thursday morning, which will give funds to states and territories damaged by natural disasters. Along with Puerto Rico, a number of states, including California, Georgia, Florida, and Iowa, will receive aid through this package after being ravaged by hurricanes, wildfires,...
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Trump Administration removes India’s Special Trade Status
As the Chinese government preps to retaliate with a 25 percent tariff increase, trade tensions have arisen between the United States and India. The Trump Administration announced last Friday that it would eliminate India’s special trade status, which exempts billions of dollars of Indian products from U.S. tariffs. Starting June 5, the White House will...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Hit Pause.”
Dear Readers, Days bleed together, don’t they? And it seems as every day passes the next flies by even faster. I often wonder about how we spend this time—working, laughing with our families, resting, doing the day-to-day tasks required to live. Sometimes, if we’re lucky enough, we’re able to step back from the rush and...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Time to turn your weakness into a strength”
People throughout the pecan industry often ask me how I became involved with Pecan South. And my answer is generally always the same. I stumbled upon it. Some of you may have heard this spiel before at conferences or other industry events, but I thought now is a good time as ever to share a...
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Friends of O.S. Gray strive to carry on the legacy of a Pecan Pioneer
In 1985, Kevin Donovan moved to a new home in Arlington, Texas near what is now O.S. Gray Natural Area. But what was once pecan giant Oscar “O.S.” Gray’s nursery, now stood what appeared to be an overgrown woodland. Donovan and his family, as well as his friends and neighbors, would often come to the...
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Pecan Congress marks another effort toward industry unity
April 9 marked a historic day for the American pecan industry. Hosted by the American Pecan Council, representatives from 19 of 21 state, regional, and national organizations and associations gathered at the Hyatt Regency DFW International Airport for the first ever Pecan Congress. Acknowledging this meeting’s historical significance, APC Executive Director, Alex Ott, commended delegates...
Read moreLetter from the Editor— “April: Spring, Budbreak & a Hope for Good Pecans”
A fresh start, April marks the start of the growing season as our pecan trees reawaken. This month, leaves will sprout up and fill out our trees, and budbreak will officially begin. It’s a moment of hope as we imagine the success of this year’s crop and a strengthening of the market. Although we should...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “In March, Another Beginning Blooms”
Another season. Another month. And no matter how much we resist, time marches on. These things aren’t a surprise, but I always find that my deadline for writing this letter to you all sneaks up on me. And like with every other issue, this one arrived and passed in a blink. March is a busy...
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North Carolina Growers Gather to Celebrate 25 years as an Association
Celebrating 25 years, the North Carolina Pecan Grower’s Association gathered in Clinton, North Carolina on the dreary morning of Feb. 16 for its annual meeting, where attendees networked, heard from pecan specialists and spoke with exhibitors. Kicking off the meeting, Mike Parker, Ph.D., from the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University, discussed managing...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Choosing a Winner & a Cover”
Back in October, we announced our first-ever Photo Contest. Over the next few months, the submissions rolled in from across the Pecan Belt. Each photo we received brought a smile to my face and to those of my coworkers and took us on a journey to familiar scenes across the industry—orchards at sunrise, changing seasons,...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Welcoming in a New Year”
By the time you’re reading this, we’ll have entered a new year. And like every year before it, 2019 seemed to appear before we were fully prepared. But unlike some years, we are welcoming this one with open arms. Last year started off with a bang. Industry members across the United States were excited to...
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New NPSA Executive Director Sets His Sights on Collaboration & Unity
Jon Krueger has been Executive Director of the National Pecan Shellers Association for around 5 months now, and while things across the industry may have settled a bit, he still has a lot of work ahead, especially as the association begins to focus on new projects and increased industry-wide collaboration. Shortly after Krueger came on...
Read moreAPC Finishes 2018 with Steps Forward and Compromises
The American Pecan Council met at the Hyatt Regency at the DFW International Airport on Dec. 18 for its last meeting of 2018. In this meeting, the council addressed a proposal for revised grades and standards for kernels, revised forms, and a funding request from the U.S. Pecan Growers Council. Chairman Mike Adams opened the...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: Time to Celebrate
Another year is coming to an end. We made it through yet again. We survived. Now some might think of that phrase—“we survived”—as rather morbid, but I look at it as a form of celebration. We did it! We made it through! We survived the hurricanes that wiped out hundred-year-old trees. We survived the heavy...
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National Chefs Get a Taste of America’s Native Nut at the 2018 Pecan Chefs Summit
Leveraging Kellen’s years of culinary expertise and contacts with partial funding from the American Pecan Council, the National Pecan Shellers Association hosted influential commercial and R&D chefs from nationally renowned brands and food service companies at its third Pecan Chefs Summit series on Oct. 25 to 27 in Atlanta and Albany, Georgia. The Pecan Chefs...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “A Time to be Thankful and Together”
While I prepared this issue, Hurricane Michael struck the Southeast. Florida, Alabama, and Georgia were hit particularly hard and growers in that region are still reeling from the devastating storm. There aren’t enough words to express how these people must be feeling. And this letter is not nearly long enough to express how I feel...
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Part 2—Exploring the National Marketing Campaign, Q&A with the APC
The American Pecan Council launched pecans’ national brand and congruent marketing campaign just a little over five months ago. Since then, “The Original Supernut” has made appearances on “Good Morning America,” been featured in numerous national publications, and been promoted by food bloggers, dietitians, and influencers. But if you’re not looking for it, the marketing campaign...
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HURRICANE MICHAEL— Georgia’s Worst-Case Scenario, Now a Reality
About a month out, growers in the Southeast are still reeling from Hurricane Michael’s destruction. Each day the damage becomes more and more apparent, and Georgia growers now say that the state’s pecan industry will take decades to recover. “This is a forever lost,” says one South Georgia grower. “In my lifetime, I won’t see...
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Hurricane Michael Ravages Georgia, State of 2018 Crop Uncertain
Hurricane Michael struck Southwest Georgia early Thursday morning as a Category 3 before weakening to a Cat 2 and 1 as it marched across the state. Along the way, the storm downed trees and power lines, swept away pecans, and endangered thousands. Moving fast, it has now traveled into the Carolinas and is predicted to...
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Part 1: Exploring the National Marketing Campaign, Q&A with the APC
The American Pecan Council launched pecans’ national brand and congruent marketing campaign just a little over four months ago. Since then, “The Original Supernut” has made appearances on “Good Morning America,” been featured in numerous national publications, and been promoted by food bloggers, dietitians, and influencers. But if you’re not looking for it, the marketing...
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Arizona, the Dark Horse of the Pecan Industry
There are forces at work out in the deserts of Arizona. Strong winds, hail, lightning storms, monsoons—the extreme weather and climate may make one think that this land was inhospitable to farming. But like with other southwestern states, that’s not necessarily the case. There are forces at work out in the deserts of Arizona. Planting,...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Harvest Photo Contest”
Due to the diverse landscape of the Pecan Belt, we’re all at different points of the season. For some, harvest is in full-swing; others are set to start this month, and still, others are making the final preparations to begin harvest in November or December. Whatever stage you’re at in your harvest right now, you’re...
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Labor Problems & Solutions—How Some Growers Solved their Labor Puzzle
It goes like this. Troy Swift has 45 acres of productive pecan trees. He needs workers for harvest. He hires someone. This person shows up the first day, but maybe they don’t show up the next. Or they have personal or family problems that start to affect their work. Or maybe they are lazy and...
Read moreWestern Pecan Production Short Course Returns to Brings Growers Back to Basics
New Mexico State University prepares to host its biennial Western Pecan Production Short Course this year on Oct. 15 through 17 at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Held every other year, the Western Pecan Production Short Course brings pecans to the classroom during a time of year when nuts...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Some Harvest Season Resources”
Dear Readers, As we race against the deadline for harvest, this season appears to be one that many believe will make or break us. I hope this month’s issue can help you find a reprieve from the stress of harvest preparations and the fear of this year’s market. Even with these looming concerns, I’ve heard...
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Texas Pecan Growers Conference 2018
The Texas Pecan Growers Association welcomed members and other attendees to its 97th annual conference and trade show in San Marcos, Texas from July 15 to 18. Gathering at the Embassy Resort and Suites, guests kicked off the conference with a welcome reception and raffle, during which they visited with exhibitors and vendors. For next...
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ArkLaMiss TriState Pecanference 2018
Growers from Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana met for their joint annual meeting in Raymond, Mississippi at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center on June 21-22. They were joined by other growers from across the Pecan Belt to network, meet with vendors and learn a bit more about growing pecans. The conference kicked off with a tour...
Read moreThe End of Summer, the Beginning of the Home Stretch
Dear Readers, The thermometer outside my office in Bryan, Texas reads 106 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s sweltering. And luckily, I’m tucked away in the air conditioning, where I will stay until I am forced to make a run through the insufferable heat to my car. There, I will crank the engine and blast my AC as...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Wait and See”
Dear Readers, Like every year, July seems to be the month that sets the tone for the oncoming harvest. This month growers finally have a general idea of what their 2018 crop will look like—for better or worse. The industry continues to share state crop estimates from growers associations (Those will be published in the...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Write to Us”
Back in October, I opened the door to article submissions and pitches. Here at Pecan South, we’re working hard to meet all our readers’ needs and wishes. Our staff has been connecting with new potential contributors, and we’re hoping to bring even more pecan-related content to you soon. But the thing about Pecan South is...
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Educational Events Help Growers Prepare for the Season
On the morning of April 5, growers throughout Central Texas gathered in the tiny town of Goldthwaite for the annual Central Texas Pecan Short Course. Hosted by Mills County AgriLife Extension Service, the Central Texas Short Course provided local growers an opportunity to earn a total of three Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and to re-learn...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: “Tomorrow, Tomorrow”
May is another time of year that can feel like a transition. Pecan growers across the country sit on the cusp of the 2018 crop. With this month, we’ve officially entered the part of the season where our focus and energy is needed now more than ever. Sure, harvest is when we hope to truly...
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Crossing the Agricultural & Consumer Divide
For 166 days throughout the year, Sandra Pierce is on the road. Hauling a 22-foot trailer packed with educational supplies, Pierce travels around Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma leading an AgriLife agricultural literacy program called “Kids & Kows & More.” Through this program, Pierce has a simple yet all too necessary mission: teach children the...
Read morePecans in D.C.— Update on the National Pecan Federation
Over the last few months, Congress has been busy finalizing legislation and working to keep the government open. One focus has been the 2018 Farm Bill, which will need to be finalized soon in order to pass in the coming fall. While representatives and staff hurry through the day to day work of bills and...
Read moreApril Letter from the Editor: National Pecan Month Brings a New Chance
Spring has sprung for the pecan industry. This month we will see years of hard work culminate in a national brand launch. Led by Weber Shandwick under the American Pecan Council, this launch will re-introduce the American public to pecans. It seems fitting that during this month—National Pecan Month—pecans will finally take center stage. For...
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The Annual Conference Whirlwind Continues
This February and March industry members from New Mexico to Alabama gathered at three different conferences to hear from pecan experts, network with each other, and celebrate the pecan industry. With more conferences set to come, Pecan South presents updates from the conferences for the Southeastern Pecan Growers Association, Western Pecan Growers Association and National...
Read moreMarch Letter from the Editor: Identifiable, Checkable and Trustworthy
As a journalist, the truth holds a lot of weight for me. Misinformation, false equivalency, bias, objectivity, protected sources—I spent the majority of my time last year debating and discussing these topics with fellow journalists, while I worked to earn my Master’s. In today’s world, we’re a click away from each other. But plot twist!...
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Around the Industry: the 2018 World Ag Expo
The World Ag Expo returned to Tulare, California on Feb. 13-15 this year to give producers, consumers and ag innovators the chance to meet, network and celebrate the future of agriculture. Presented by the International Agri-Center, this year’s World Ag Expo covered 2.6 million square feet and featured exhibitors with various focuses from safety to...
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American Pecan Council Makes Moves in January Meeting
The American Pecan Council, the operating group for the federal marketing order for pecans, met in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 22 to discuss staff, marketing, financial and operational updates. With 25 council members in attendance, this in-person meeting marks the first in 2018 for the council. In the two-day meeting, the American Pecan Council (APC)...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: The Most Interesting Month in the Year
February has always been my favorite month. It’s special for a number of reasons. It is the only month whose number of days can change. It’s shorter; moves by faster. It actually gives you a chance to miss it. Other months sometimes feel like they drag on, pulling us along, rushing us through the motions...
Read moreA Pecan Homecoming: Leading a Way to a Brighter Future
Harvest has come to an end and the retail season continues to slow down as well, but with a new year comes new opportunities to chase after long-sought dreams and to bring change to a retail business, orchard, or pecan operation. It’s a new year for taking chances. Traveling from East to West across the...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: A New Year, A New Journey
It’s 2018. Crazy, right? I can barely believe how time moves so fast, yet so slow. Like every year before it, 2017 passed like each moment was lived out in the ocean. Moments inundated us; crashed into us like tsunami-size waves. Pushing us under, stealing the breath from our lungs, potentially drowning us in their...
Read moreNational Pecan Federation Formed in First Step Toward a PAC
Five industry associations have united to support an industry-wide effort to secure representation in Washington, D.C. through a lobbyist and a new potential association—the National Pecan Federation Inc.—in the hopes of creating a political action committee (PAC) for the pecan industry). The National Pecan Federation (NPF) would act in the interest for the entire industry...
Read moreLetter from the Editor: Harvest & Holiday Wishes
With the holidays and harvest season upon us, my mind is racing with all the seasonal pressures and thoughts. And I’m sure you can say the same. This year though, there is one other thing, one word that I keep coming back to. Perfection. We search for the perfect gift, try to cook the perfect...
Read moreRemembering and Cherishing Pecan Memories
Unlike most Texans and Southerners, I only have a handful of pecan stories from my childhood. My grandparents didn’t have a tree. My mom didn’t really bake. So, we didn’t spend hours baking pecan pies or picking up pecans out in the backyard. But like many Americans, my first—pretty much all—my pecan memories come from...
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Where Heritage & Business Meet, the Choctaw Nation Grows Pecans
“I don’t want to say it just happened, but it kinda just happened,” says Doyle McDaniel, Tree Production Manager for the Choctaw Pecan Farms. He’s referring to the over 1,500 acres of pecan farmland that the Choctaw Nation now owns throughout Southeastern Oklahoma. In about two years, the Choctaw Nation has gone from an undisclosed...
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Round Two: Weber Shandwick Team Immerses Itself into Central Pecan Region
The APC-hired marketing team from Weber Shandwick followed the meeting with a central region immersion tour on Sept. 14 and 15. The group consisted of ten team members from the Chicago and Dallas offices; these team members work across the APC account in areas such as creatives, issues, and media relations. On this fast and...
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Growers Lose Crops, Trees, and Leaves to Harvey and Irma
At the end of August and beginning of September, two hurricanes—Harvey and Irma— hit the Southern portion of the United States. Harvey struck Southeast Texas on Aug. 25 as a Category 4; it quickly downgraded to a tropical storm and then stalled over Texas for three days. Following soon after, Hurricane Irma blasted the Caribbean,...
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American Pecan Council Meeting Produces New Policies, New Tasks and More Work
The American Pecan Council (APC) met at the Noble Research Institute (formerly the Noble Foundation) on Sept. 13 in Ardmore Oklahoma. Council members and guests began the day by touring the Noble Research Institute’s greenhouse and labs. In the tour, members saw the latest research on scab as well as some of the pecan trees...
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October’s Theme: And So It Goes
These last few months of 2017 have felt almost like one of those apocalypse movies. You know the ones. Everything seems to be going well when suddenly Mother Nature seems to turn against humankind. She batters us with rain and winds. She shakes the earth, toppling buildings and livelihoods with a flick of her wrist....
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Lalo Medina’s Journey From Real Estate to Pecans
On another hot Texas morning, Lalo Medina, 41, sits inside the small trailer office at his Bastrop farm, one of three farms that Pecan Grove Farms owns. He makes calls and sends emails. Medina and his family had driven down from Dallas for a number of days; while Medina handled farm business, his two oldest...
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96th TPGA Conference Focuses on the Future of American Pecans
The annual Texas Pecan Growers Association conference was held in Frisco, once again, where attendees from across the country gathered to hear from a number of speakers, talk with friends, colleagues and exhibitors, and celebrate the TPGA Executive Vice President’s retirement. The conference opened with the pecan mini-shortcourse, a “great way to get acclimated to...
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Tropical Storm or Not, the TriState Conference Remains
Growers, buyers and pecan enthusiasts didn’t let the threat of a tropical storm stop them from attending the annual TriState Conference in Monroe, Louisiana on June 22. With a canceled orchard tour and concerns over flash flooding and heavy rain looming, some guests and organizers worried that attendance would be low and travel dangerous. But...
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