Pecan Nuts

Pecan nuts are a valued agricultural product with deep roots in North America, known for their robust demand across global markets. As a high-quality ingredient, pecans are essential in industries ranging from snacks and baking to specialty oils and cosmetics. Their distinct cultivation and harvest processes require precise sourcing to ensure quality and consistency. As global interest in diverse and high-value crops grows, pecans continue to play an important role in the supply chains of businesses seeking reliable, premium-grade nuts. Find access to trusted pecan suppliers on Nutrada.

What are Pecan Nuts?

Pecans come from the Carya illinoinensis tree, primarily grown in the southeastern United States. With their smooth, rich taste and tender texture, pecans are a preferred ingredient in pies, snacks, and desserts. Pecan suppliers distribute both raw and processed pecans across global markets, ensuring that this high-demand nut is readily available for food manufacturers and consumers alike.

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Types, Varieties & Forms of Pecan Nut

Pecans are commonly available in a range of forms, including whole nuts, halves, pieces, and meal. Varieties like Desirable, Stuart, and Pawnee differ slightly in flavor, size, and oil content, providing options for different culinary uses. In addition to raw pecans, processed forms such as roasted, salted, or candied pecans are widely popular, catering to snack and dessert markets.

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The different size grades for pecans primarily refer to the number of halves per pound, with the larger nuts having fewer halves per pound. Some of the most common pecan size grades, are:

FJMH (Fancy Junior Mammoth Halves): This grade includes pecans with approximately 200-250 halves per pound. FJMH pecans are large, visually appealing, and often used in premium applications, such as baking, desserts, and gourmet products.
Mammoth Halves: With around 150-200 halves per pound, Mammoth Halves are among the largest pecans available. Their size and high quality make them ideal for decorative use in baked goods, pralines, and premium snack mixes.
Junior Mammoth Halves: Slightly smaller than Mammoth, Junior Mammoth Halves typically have 250-300 halves per pound. These pecans are still considered large and work well in a range of applications, from cooking and baking to snacks and retail packaging.
Extra Large Halves: This size grade includes pecans with around 300-350 halves per pound. Extra Large Halves are versatile, often used in recipes and snack mixes where slightly smaller but still uniform halves are preferred.
Large Halves: With approximately 350-450 halves per pound, Large Halves are popular for bulk use in confectionery, baked goods, and mixed nut products.
Medium Halves: These pecans, with about 450-550 halves per pound, are ideal for food processing and are commonly used in granola bars, trail mixes, and chopped nut applications.
Small Halves: Small Halves typically contain around 550-650 halves per pound, making them suitable for products that require smaller pieces or ground pecans, such as coatings, toppings, or nut flours.
Pecan Pieces: Pieces are further graded by size, from Extra Large Pieces to Small and Granule pieces. These smaller pieces are used in recipes, snack bars, and food products where whole halves are unnecessary. They’re also popular in items like pecan butter or crusts for baked goods.

Each of these grades serves different market needs, with larger sizes often going to premium applications and smaller halves and pieces used in more processed foods.

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Harvest Season of Pecan Nut

The pecan harvest season typically occurs between October and December in the United States, with the timing influenced by climate and tree variety. During this period, mature nuts fall from the trees, allowing them to be collected for processing. This seasonality impacts the pecan supply chain, with suppliers planning around peak harvest times to maintain consistent quality and availability.

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Producing Countries

The United States, particularly states like Georgia, Texas, and New Mexico, is the leading producer of pecans, accounting for the majority of the world’s supply. Other pecan-producing countries include Mexico and South Africa, each bringing unique characteristics to the nuts they produce based on local growing conditions.

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Trends & History

Pecans have deep cultural roots in North America, where they were first cultivated by Indigenous peoples. In recent years, U.S. pecan production has shown variability. In 2022, the United States produced approximately 275 million pounds of pecans, marking an 8% increase from the previous year. However, in 2023, production decreased by 4% to 264 million pounds.

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According to Cornell, Georgia and New Mexico are prominent producers, with Georgia producing 126 million pounds in 2022 and New Mexico 79 million pounds. In 2023, New Mexico led with 100 million pounds, followed by Georgia with 88.3 million pounds.

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Global demand for pecans has been on the rise, driven by their health benefits and versatility in various food products. The U.S. remains a significant consumer, with increasing interest in pecan-based products like nut butters and dairy alternatives. International markets, particularly in Europe and Asia, have also shown growing demand, contributing to the expansion of pecan exports.

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Pecan Nut Wholesale

For businesses in need of high-quality pecans, Nutrada provides a reliable platform to connect with trusted pecan suppliers, exporters, and wholesalers. Whether you require whole pecans, pieces, or specialty varieties, Nutrada makes it easy to source premium pecans to suit your specific business needs. Explore Nutrada to secure dependable pecan suppliers and ensure a seamless supply chain for this exceptional nut.