Fun Facts
Native Range of Pecan Trees
Pecan trees are native to the United States, ranging from the mid-South all the way up to the middle Midwest following the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
Illinois is the northernmost range for native pecans, with most of the pecan trees growing in southern and western Illinois along the Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio River valleys!
But I thought pecans came from Georgia?!
Pecans are not native to Georgia! All of the pecan groves in the southeastern US are commercial farms relying on transplants and grafting!
Pecan Grove in southern Illinois
Pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) are large, long-lived trees that thrive in moist, bottomland forests and can grow up to 70-100 feet tall and 40-75 feet wide! This image is courtesy of Voss Pecans in Carlyle, IL and shows a mature grove during summertime.
Harvesting Pecans
Pecan harvesting requires some big equipment, and is done in November and December! This image is courtesy of Voss Pecans in Carlyle, IL. Here they are busy raking up all of the pecans that were shaken out of the trees using a tree shaker that attaches to the tractor. Once the pecans are collected, all of the loose sticks and leaves are removed. The pecans then need to be cracked and de-shelled to get the delicious and nutritious pecan meat that is used to make our pecan butters!
Pecans were once called "Illinois nuts"
George Washington was known to enjoy "Illinois nuts" and planted his own grove at Mount Vernon in Virginia with trees gifted from Thomas Jefferson!
