What Goes On In A Pecan Orchard?

Of course you’ve experienced the fruits of the labor that goes on in the pecan orchard, but do you know how your pecans go from the tree to your dishes, your baked goods, or your favorite snack? Knowing what goes on in the pecan orchard can really give you a new appreciation for pecan farming and how deep pecan farming runs in the cultural veins of Louisiana.

First and foremost, the United States supplies 80% of the whole world’s supply of pecans. This is an average of 250 and 300 million pounds of pecans each year, and they’re all grown within pecan orchards in Louisiana and all throughout the United States. The pecan harvest season begins around September to October, and it gradually moves west ending completely in around March. 

In Louisiana, pecans are a fall harvest, while a state like Arizona may have their pecan orchards going into the early spring. Wild pecan trees grew in the United States for millions of years, and the vast majority of pecan trees in the world are related to the native US pecan tree.

Louisiana is one of the top pecan producing states in the United States, with some pecan orchards dating back hundreds of years. It can take 7 to 10 years before a single pecan tree can begin producing a full supply of pecans, and some of these pecan trees can produce for up to 100 years or more.

This means that while you’re walking through the pecan orchard, some of the trees you see may have been producing pecans for generations. Farmers and workers in the pecan orchard work hard to take care of pecan trees, knowing that with proper care a single tree can produce over and over again for a century or more.

During the harvest season, the health of these trees and the nuts they produce are carefully monitored to ensure they’re always in their best state of health. When you enjoy Louisiana pecans, you enjoy a piece of Louisiana history!