PECANS
Pecans are native to the Mississippi valley area of the U.S.
The state nut of Alabama is the Pecan (1982).
The state tree of Texas is the pecan tree.
The U.S. produces roughly 90% of the world's pecans, with an annual production of about 200 million pounds.
Pecan trees produce 25 to 45 pounds per tree in alternate years. They are an alternate-bearing tree, producing nuts every 2nd year. Researchers are working on developing a tree that will produce a large crop annually.
Georgia is the largest producer of pecans in the U.S.
The world's largest pecan nursery is in Lumberton, Mississippi.
Okmulgee, Oklahoma, holds the world's record for largest pecan pie, pecan cookie, and pecan brownie. The town holds an annual Pecan Festival each June.
Astronauts took pecans to the moon in two Apollo space missions. Pecan wood is used in agricultural implements, baseball bats, hammer handles, furniture, wall paneling, flooring, religious carvings, and firewood.
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