Nurseries | Growers | Sales & Processors | Crop Management | Consultants | Equipment | Employment | Publications
The Industry----- Australia | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA-----Education | Health | Environment | Farmstays
Almond | Cashew | Chestnut | Hazelnut | Macadamia | Peanut | Pecan | Pistachio | Walnut | Other Nuts

Pecan Nuts (Carya illinoensis )

The pecan pages on this site include listings of pecan nurseries, growers, sales as well as industry overviews, propagation information, pecan products and a range of other pecan related information.

The pecan is a native American tree nut and is a member of the hickory family. The U.S. is responsible for around 80% of the world's pecan production the prime producing area from new Mexico through to Georgia. Other pecan producing countries include Australia, Mexico, China, Argentina, Israel and South Africa.

China is the world's leading importer of pecan nuts and the market has grown expedentially. The import of pecan nuts into China was virtually negligable five years ago while a yaer ago import demand had increased to around one-quarter of the U.S. crop.

In Australia pecans prefer hot humid summers and are primarily grown in Northern New South Wales and South-eastern Queensland. Small plantings also exist in South Australia and south-western Western Australia.



Australian Pecan Nut Industry
In Australia around 1300 ha is currently planted in pecan trees producing 3,260 tonnes in shell (1,746 tonnes kernal). Pecans constitute less than 5% of the world tree nut trade of which 90% originate in the USA and Mexico. (Source - Australian Nut Industry Council). Australia is the fourth highest global producer of pecans, behind the USA, Mexico and the Republic of South Africa. For more information on pecan production and markets see Pecan Production, Industry and Markets.

With world demand anticipated to continue to outstrip supply, the future of the pecan industry in Australia looks very promising. Australia has in excess of 100 pecan growers and plantings in excess of 180,000 trees. Stahmann Farms grows the vast majority of Australia's pecan crop and operates the country's only commercial pecan shelling, value-adding and packing plant.
Photo: Stahmann Plant at ToowoombaThe Stahmann Processing Plant at Toowoomba
Australian Pecan Growers Association Inc. (APGA)
The APGA is the peak body representing the pecan industry in Australia. It was formed to represent and support growers and improve pecan production through educational and research activities. Visit the Australian Pecan Growers Association Inc. site for information.

Cultivation
Pecan under favourable conditions can grow to 30 metres and make a great specimen tree in a largish garden. Stahmann Farms pioneered the technique of hedging pecan trees to achieve the optimum balance of leaf and fruit. Although similar in some respects to a walnut tree, the pecan however is more soil and climate tolerant. Pecans are a slow growing tree, cropping lightly after five years and not cropping commercially until around ten years old. If well maintained pecan trees can live and produce well for generations.

Although a sub-tropical tree, they will tolerate moderate frosts and need cool winters to set properly. They will not tolerate late frosts and short summers and who can blame them.

Self pollinated varieties are available but 2 trees of different cultivars usually result in more nuts. Pecan nuts which have been cross variety pollinated have also shown to be larger and have increased kernal size. Expert advice should be sought in relation to variety selection for optimum pollination results. Pecan cultivars differ in the order male and female flowers mature. Some varieties self pollinate while others are early or late pollinators .A nursery specialising in nut trees should be able to provide you with advice on suitable cultivars for your needs.

Useful pages on growing Information can be found in the following references:

Health and Nutrition
 Pecan nuts are high in fibre, protein and energy and have the highest level of antioxidants of any nut ( or any natural food product for that matter). See the Pecan Nut - Health and Nutrition page for more details.

Popular Pecan Varieties
Tthere are over 500 different varieties of pecans available for consumption.The following are popular varities grown in Australia. Prospective growers should seek expert advice on variety selection to suit varying climate and soil conditions, disease tolerance, production, kernel percentage, nut size and shape, appearance and taste.
  • Wichita
    A popular variety but nuts can be adversely affected by too little or too much water. The tree is vigorous and an early to mid season bearer. The Wichita variety bears at a young age and sheds pollen late. Among pecan varieties the wichita is comparitively arid tolerant. Besy varieties for cross pollination purposes include Cheyenne, Cherokee and Western schley.
  • Western Schley
    The Western Schley is another popular variety grown in Australia but will shed a percentage of nuts if there is a bumper crop. Although often planted to assist in pollinating the Wichita variety, it will generally crop without a pollen donor, which makes it popular as a single-tree planting in the home garden. The Western Schley does require plenty of water and is a popular choice for culinary and confectionary purposes. Best varieties for pollination purposes include, Wichita, Chicasaw and Kiowa.
  • Mohawks
    The most attractive features of the Mohawk pecan variety are the very large flavoursom nut (kernal can exceed 60% of the total nut weight) encased in a paper- thin shell. The tree is hardy and vigorous, matures early and is a profilic bearer. This cultivar was selected from a cross between 'Success' and 'Mahan' and is an older variety being released in 1965.
    Large nuts similar to Mahan. Thin shell of attractive appearance. Kernel can exceed 60% of weight of the entire nut. Separates easily from shell; high quality, matures early. Vigorous and hardy tree, prolific bearer.
  • Apaches
    A cross between Burkett and Schley pecan tree cultivars the Apache is often used as rootstock as it is suitable to a wide variety of environments and is a vigorous fast growing tree bearing in 8 - 12 years.x.

See Pecan Nurseries for stockists.

 

Festivals
Australian Pecan Nurseries
Australian Pecan Growers
Australian Pecan Sales
Additional Information
Overseas Links

Images on this page provided courtesy of Stahmann Farms