We Were At The 2012 Tri-State Pecan Convention

<Photo: Mark Swanson at the 2012 Tri-State Pecan Convention & Trade Show

Family-run Natchitoches Pecans welcomes growers from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana and performs a demo of its cutting-edge pecan-sorting processes. Natchitoches Pecans, Inc. recently participated in the Tri-State Pecan Convention & Trade Show, an annual meeting for pecan growers from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana—and this year, the family-owned and operated company hosted part of the show at its own orchard. 

Growers come to this yearly convention for recommendations about fertilization, information on new products, and advice about what to expect in the coming year. One of its features this year was a demonstration at the Natchitoches Pecans orchard, which utilizes a new machine from Savage Equipment that sorts in-shell pecans by color, automatically picking out the bad ones. 

“One of the biggest attractions of the Tri-State Pecan Show is that it gives you an opportunity to see a different operation, and to get a different perspective on how to problem-solve and work through the issues you encounter as a pecan grower,” said Natchitoches Pecans co-owner Julie Swanson. 

The sorting machinery we’ve implemented at our orchard has really improved our efficiency, so we were thrilled to get a chance to show other growers how it works.” One hundred and sixty growers—the majority of the trade show’s attendees—attended the demonstration, followed by a catered barbecue lunch in Natchitoches Pecans’ orchard. The two-day show concluded the next day with the release of 2012’s first Pecan Crop estimate. 

Based on Tri-State Grower member input, the projection for the year is 265 million pounds—a number considered encouraging by experts, in view of the drought experienced by growers in the region last year. Swanson was cheerful about Natchitoches Pecans’ prospects for the year. “We’ve had good pollination, and we’re happy with how things are shaping up this season,” she said. “So far so good!”

ABOUT NATCHITOCHES PECANS, INC. Established in 1987, 

Natchitoches Pecans, Inc., is a family-owned and operated pecan orchard. Mark Swanson oversees the daily operations, while his wife, Julie, manages Little Eva's Pecan Store, the Internet, and the mail-order business. Their mothers, brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews help wherever needed.

Natchitoches Pecans is proud to offer its customers high-quality, gourmet Louisiana pecans. For more information or to place an order online, visit www.natchitochespecans.com.