It's pecan time in Louisiana. From what I've been reading it is going to be a short season. According to reports, pecan crops are down from the record number in 2007.
I'm not sure if that is true or not but with the holidays coming up, who wants to take that chance. Why buy pecans from other countries when you can have homegrown pecans from right here in Louisiana.
Pecans make a great gift for any occasion: for friends and family, bridal shower gift along with recipes using pecans, corporate gifts, gifts to friends who enjoy cooking, and as Christmas gifts.
Many of these Louisiana pecan growers also have gift items, cookbooks and more. Give them a call, visit their websites, travel to their orchards and buy their products. Support our locally grown crops. Support Louisiana agriculture. Buy local, shop local.
There are several Louisiana pecan growers. The following is a listing of businesses that sell pecans:
Natchitoches Pecans, Inc., 439 Little Eva Rd., Cloutierville, LA 71416 . Natchitoches Pecans is a family run business that has been operating since 1986. When owners Julie and Mark Swanson began tending to the pecan orchard they initially knew nothing about pecans. But according to Julie since that time they have "learned a lot". Natchitoches Pecans is a 365 acre portion of Little Eva Plantation. This area is great for history lovers as the famous Clementine Hunter was born at Little Eva Plantation. It is the area that Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote about in Uncle Tom's Cabin.
In addition to selling pecans, Natchitoches Pecans has a great store where all types of pecans and gift items can be purchased. Pecans can be purchased in-shell, cracked, shelled, chocolate covered, cinnamon, honey as well as in famous candies such as old fashioned creamy pralines, pecan brittles and pecan logs. Natchitoches Pecan also carries flavored coffees: Southern Pecan and Little Eva Blend.
Cookbooks: Pecan Favorites by Rita Nichols which features over 200 recipes with pecans, Serving Louisiana, Marshes to Mansions by the Junior League of Lake Charles, Mardi Gras to Mistletoe by the Junior League of Shreveport/Bossier. There are soy candles, gift items, Fleur de Lis flags and other gift items, Mardi Gras, LSU gift items and more.
Other items in the gift shop include Clementine Hunter Ornaments by Lurline Lemieux and paintings by James Hunter, grandson of Clementine Hunter.
From October 15th through December 23rd from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Beginning in November also open on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. and January - October 22nd, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To order or for more information call 318-379-0272 or 800-572-5925
Pecans, gift boxes, gift tins, corporate gifts and flavored pecans. Recipes from Natchitoches Pecans. Visit on the web at http://www.natchitochespecans.com.
Rosalie Pecans is a family owned and operated company located on Roasalie Plantation, just south of Alexandria on the old Baton Rouge Highway. The retail pecan business began in 1999. Rosalie Pecans sells shelled pecan halves and pieces year-round; they also offer gift packs. In the fall in-shell pecans are available for purchase. Sampler boxes and tins contain halves that are prepared four ways: chocolate covered, sugared, toasted/seasoned and plain. Rosalie Pecans can take care of your entire Christmas gift list and ship gift boxes or tins for customers. Rosalie Pecans also carries several gift items including pecan-shaped massage soap, pecan crusher, and two books about pecans. A children's book, Christmas Turtles and a cookbook, In Praise of Pecans by June Jackson which contains recipes and recollections from the author.
Fall store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. Other times of the year hours are by appointment.
Visit www.rosaliepecan.com or shop their online store www.shop.rosaliepecans.com for available products. Orders can be called, emailed, faxed, mailed or placed online.
Recipes from Rosalie Pecans.
Rosalie Pecans is located at 63 Rosalie Road in Alexandria for more information call 318-448-3139.
Baskin Louisiana located in Franklin Parish is home to Company Farm Pecans. Products available include cracked and in shell pecans, holiday gift tins, gourmet gift boxes, fancy shelled pecans and fresh pecans. Harvesting begins in October and runs through January. Company Farm Pecans, located at 563 Company Farm Road, is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information or to place an order call 318-248-3400 or 866-325-1891. Pecans can be shipped anytime of year. Visit http://www.companyfarmpecans.com/ for more information.
Louisiana Pecans, 208 Little Eva Plantation, Cloutierville, LA 71416, 800-737-3226
Louisiana Pecans offers gift tins, pecan halves and pieces, gourmet flavored pecans and whole and cracked pecans. Custom gift baskets can be made for Christmas, Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, and Easter. Also available is a cookbook written by June Jackson entitled "In Praise of Pecans" that would make an excellent Christmas gift for anyone who loves pecans.
Pecans are shipped year round. The Pecan Depot is open during October, November and December. Orders for new crop whole and cracked pecans can be placed beginning the third week in October through January 15th.
Hours: October - Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Last weekend in October through Christmas - Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. http://www.louisianapecans.com
Honey Bayou Farm is located in Coushatta, Louisiana. Contact 318-932-8912 for more infomation.
Littlepage Farms, 12219 Highway 8 South, Colfax, LA 71417, 318-627-3715 or 318-481-5449, sells in shell Pecans
Minsky Pecan Market, Inc., 1214 Sparrow St., Lake Providence, LA 71254, 318-559-1614 or 1-800-646-7597. Visit on the web at www.minskywearenuts.com. Pecans, other nuts, and Louisiana products.
Ybar Farms, 250 Yantis Lane, Bunkie, LA 71322, 318-346-6495
Pecans, praline pecans, sugar pecans, salted pecans, Creole seasoned pecans, white chocolate pecans, shelled pecan halves, shelled pieces, muscadines, muscadine jelly, and Angus cattle.
Pecan Oil
Kinloch Plantation Products, L.L.C., 1304 Cornell Street, P.O. Box 1346, Winnsboro, LA 71295, 318-435-1455, www.pecanoil.com. Pecan oil
More Pecan growers may be found at this link .
Recipes from the National Pecan Shellers Association
Source: Louisiana Departement of Agriculture and Forestry, websites of pecan growers, interviews and research.
Small photo courtesy of National Pecan Shellers Association.
