Source:NCDA&CS, 11/6/17

Ben Byrd, owner of Lakeview Pecans, inspects his pecan crop at his orchard in Bailey in 2016.

As families prepare for the holiday season, N.C. pecan farmers are harvesting their crop. The Tar Heel state produces 3 to 5 million pounds of pecans annually, and 2017 is shaping up to be a great year.

That’s welcome news for local growers after last year’s crop was devastated when Hurricane Matthew pummeled Southeastern North Carolina, home to the majority of the state’s pecan orchards. In 2016, many growers reported up to 80 percent crop loss.

“This year has been far better,” said Ben Byrd, owner of Lakeview Pecans in Bailey. “Most growers should have very good crops, as long as they did what they were supposed to do throughout the year.”

Byrd said he could harvest up to 15,000 pounds this year. Compare that to less than 3,000 pounds harvested in 2016.

North Carolina is not the largest producer of pecans in the nation. Most of the state’s growers are considered non-commercial with fewer than 1,000 trees. Byrd said what N.C. orchards lack in size, they make up in quality. “I’m not being biased. Our pecans are better,” Byrd said. “Our soil is better, and we don’t have to supplement with micronutrients like other states. Minus the cold weather, North Carolina is ideal for growing pecans.”

N.C. pecans are known for their delicious flavor, but also have many health benefits including being high in unsaturated fats and being helpful in lowering cholesterol. The nuts also contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, B, and E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

Whether enjoyed plain as a snack, as a topping for your salad, or inside your Thanksgiving pie, there are countless ways to incorporate pecans into your daily meals.