Pecans are grown commercially in 15 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. The US pecan grew wild in North America for millions of years and US pecan growers have developed new cultivars with natural non-GMO methods to ensure consistent superior quality. The United States produces about 80 percent of the world’s pecan crop.
How are pecans grown?
Pecans are grown in groves or orchards of trees. What is the difference between a grove and an orchard? Groves are grouping of trees that are grown naturally whereas orchards are defined as groups of trees planted by humans. Pecan trees usually range in height from 70 to 100 feet and there are over 1000 varieties of pecans.
Pecan Nutrition Facts
Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals. Some of these include vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, several B vitamins, and zinc. Pecans also contain fiber and protein. One-ounce of pecans provide 10 percent of the recommended Daily Value for fiber. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged and approved the following health claim for pecans: “Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pecans, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”
Enjoy this recipe that uses pecans.
https://ilovepecans.org/pecan-butter/
Reference:
I Love Pecans. National Pecan Shellers Association. https://ilovepecans.org/. Published 2018. Accessed April 16, 2019.