Pecan Promotion

The Washington County Farm Bureau Women's Committee is currently promoting Pecans. This section includes history and facts about the Pecan, as well as, teacher resources to help in their classroom presentations. There are also other helpful links included and other areas that might be of interest, such as Life on the Farm and Kindergarten Day at the Fair. Please check back periodically for new information and activities involving Pecans. Teachers see our Teacher Resources section to get ideas for presenting pecans in classrooms.

Facts About Pecans

The state of Georgia began producing pecans in the 1800's.

Georgia is the leading U.S. pecan-producing state....producing an average of 75 million pounds a year.

Most Georgia pecans are grown in middle and southwest Georgia.

The history of the pecan can be traced back to the 16th century, originating in central and eastern North America and in the river valleys of Mexico.

The pecan is native to the Mississippi Valley region in the United States.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson planted pecan trees in the 1700's. Washington called them "Mississippi Nuts."

The word "pecan" is an Algonquin word meaning "to crack with a stone."

Pecan trees range in height from 70 to 100 feet but sometimes grow to 150 feet or more.

Native pecan trees- those over 150 years old- have trunks more than 3 feet in diameter.

The pecan tree is a member of the hickory family.

There are over 1,000 varieties of pecans, many named for Native American Indian tribes.

Pecans contain compounds with antioxidant properties and can help fight the buildup of LDL cholesterol- low~density lipoprotein- the so called bad cholesterol.

Pecans contain over 19 vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, E, several B vitamins, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, potassium and zinc.

Pecans are heart-healthy, containing 87% unsaturated fatty acids -62% monounsaturated and 25% polyunsaturated.

The pecan is the most popular American nut after the peanut.

Pecans come in a variety of sizes - mammoth, extra large, large, medium, small and midget. They are sold as whole nuts, halves, pieces, granules or meal.

Although the pecan is a heavy nut, it takes 5,640 halves to equal the weight of a standard watermelon.

Shelled and unshelled pecans can be kept in airtight containers in the refrigerato for up to nine months or in the freezer for up to two years.

Pecan trees are prized for their lumber, which makes beautiful furniture, flooring and paneling.

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