Customers looking for fresh NC pecans for upcoming holiday meals will need to act fast. The 2018 state pecan season will be a shorter season due to damage from Hurricane Florence.
Said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler:
“There are fewer pecans available this season, but we are fortunate that we do not have the tree loss that we experienced with Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Pecan growers are still harvesting and will have crop available for the holiday season.”
The department encourages customers to support local pecan growers whenever possible. Shoppers can look for the “Got To Be NC” logo on packaged pecans, visit their local farmers markets, or take a trip to more than two dozen pecan orchards across the state. The NC Pecan Growers Association offers an online directory of orchards at www.buyncpecans.com. Their website also includes pecan recipes and downloadable activities for children.
The association will celebrate NC Pecan Month during Pecan Day at the State Farmers Market, 1201 Agriculture Street, Raleigh NC, scheduled for Friday, November 30, 2018, 11am-1pm. During the event, visitors may enjoy free samples of a pecan dessert and pick up local pecans for holiday celebrations.
North Carolina is one of the top 10 pecan producing states in the nation. Local growers produce three to five million pounds of pecans annually on about 2,000 acres. While pecans are grown across the state, most commercial orchards are located in Eastern and Southeastern North Carolina.
The State Farmers Market information may be found here. Market hours are Monday-Saturday 5am-6pm, and Sundays 8am-6pm.
Source: Dexter Hill (pecan marketing), NCDA&CS
