Pecans 101 - Pecan Nation (2024)

THE HISTORY
AND ORIGIN
OF PECANS

As the only major tree nut that naturally grows in the Americas, pecans have a rich history in the United States that dates back centuries. The name pecan is actually derived from an Algonquian word that translates to “requiring a stone to crack”.

Pecan trees started as a wild species, originally found mainly in the Southern parts of the country. Georgia started cultivating pecans in the late 1800s and is now the top pecan-producing state in the country – growing over 100 million pounds of pecans each year. Whether from Georgia or other states, over 80% of the global supply of pecans are U.S.A. grown.

No matter how you say it – pee-KAHNS, pee-CANS, PEE-cans, or pick-AHNS, the pecan is proudly America’s nut.