Pecans are actually one of the most easten fruit nuts in the United States!
While Georgia is the top producing state in the country, prior to this year’s hurricane season production was already expected to decline by 8%. That number of course changed after Hurricane Helene made landfall this September.
Reports show that the state’s pecan growers suffered a nearly 36 million pound loss as a result of the storm, 75% of this year’s expected crop.
Prices are expected to rise this holiday season as a result, with pecan half prices reaching totals of $7-8 per pound.
Unfortunately, the impact of Hurricane Helene will be a long-term issue for the Georgia pecan industry, as the storm devastated a number of productive trees across 48,000 acres.
USDA predicts per capita consumption of the nut will drop by nearly 24% this year; however, production is still not expected to keep up with demand.
