The Only Tree Nut Native to the U.S.

November 2, 2015
Written by Elise

Pecans are used for pecan pie, right? What else do you know about them? See if you knew any of these interesting facts about pecans, or if you know something we didn't!





1. Pecans are the only tree nut native to the U.S., where about 80% of the world’s crop is grown, with Georgia as the largest grower in the country.  Ours come from Texas.

2. Pecans grow in many countries besides Mexico and the U.S. Some of them are Brazil, Peru, South America, China, Israel, and Australia.

3. Pecans trees were cultivated by Franciscan monks in Mexico in 1711, but Native Americans had been growing them long before then. The name “pecan” is from a Native American Algonquin word that described all nuts requiring a stone to crack.

4. Shortly after the Revolutionary War, it became popular to plant pecan trees in community gardens. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew pecan trees in their personal gardens.

5. The nut harvest for growers is typically around mid-October.

6. Though these nuts are used frequently in baking and candy-making, they are an excellent source of manganese and protein.

7. Pecans have the highest amount of antioxidants of all nuts, 19 vitamins and minerals, and over 2.7 grams of fiber with each serving. Eating a handful of pecans a day may delay the progression of diseases like Lou Gehrig’s disease.