ATLANTA — More pecans are produced in the state of Georgia than any other state in the country. Fifteen states, including Georgia, are pooling together to try to get the rest of the country to go nuts for pecans.
Georgia pecans are making their way into more homes than ever before. An estimated 100 million-pound harvest in 2015 could be a record.
"We are, by far, the No. 1-producing state of pecans in the U.S.," Jack Spruill with the Department of Agriculture said. "We're at some $313 million of economic value for pecans. That's five times bigger than peaches."
Georgia and 14 other states are collaborating to get federal dollars to market pecans across the country.
"If this federal marketing order does get voted in and accepted by producers, it would be some $8 million," Spruill said.
The Pecan Commodity Commission collects around $700,000 annually, which goes into research.
Wholesale, mail order and retail shop, Pearson's Farm has been growing pecans for 130 years. The owners believe a boost in federal funding is a boost for all pecan farmers.
"The pecan market is growing, pecan awareness is growing even internationally," All Pearson said. "We are planting trees and our orchards are growing in order to incorporate that."
Nov. 27 is the last day for public comment and pecan farmers and the Georgia Department of Agriculture are fully expecting the USDA to pass the marketing order.
WSBTV
