Annual Pecan Fundraiser

The Hunt County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office is taking orders for our annual pecan fundraiser now through October 11th.  Our pecans are top quality, Texas pecans. This year the sale includes your choice of a 1lb bag of halves or a 1lb bag of pieces. Proceeds from this sale go toward educational programming in Hunt County and we truly appreciate your support! For your convenience, this year we have multiple ways to order. To order online visit https://huntagrilife.ecwid.com/, email your order to hunt-tx@tamu.edu, or stop by our office.  

The pecan tree is the state tree of Texas and is native in 150 counties across the state. Pecan trees are popular for both landscaping and as a source of nuts. In 2014, the U.S. produced more than 200 million pounds of pecans with roughly 61 million of those pounds being produced in Texas.  Seventy-five percent of the U.S. pecan crop comes from just three states, Georgia, New Mexico, and Texas.

Most of the pecan questions that come through our office deal with tree or nut issues and most are not aware of the nutritional benefits associated with adding pecans to your diet. Pecans are packed with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which can help lower blood cholesterol when substituted for foods high in saturated fats.  In addition to good fats, pecans serve as an excellent source for many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B, and E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.  To top it off, the USDA ranks pecans as the most antioxidant-rich tree nut. Antioxidants are known for their age defying characteristics. Add a little spunk to your diet by including pecans. We all love pecans in pies and pralines, but they are also a tasty addition to eat with yogurt, fruits, or on salads. 

If you are interested in growing your own pecan trees, and not so much the nutritional benefits, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers a detailed publication filled with information and you may pick up a copy of this at the Hunt County Extension office, 2217 Washington Street, Greenville, Texas 75401. 

If you have questions, concerns, or just want to chat, please feel free to call (903) 455-9885, email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu, or come by the Hunt County Extension office, 2217 Washington Street, Greenville, Texas, 75401. 

References:

Ritter, Corie. (2019). Pecans: What you need to know. Path to the Plate. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. https://pathtotheplate.tamu.edu/pecans-industry-overview-and-what-you-need-to-know/