2011 - A Year in Review

So 2011 has come and...in only a few short hours...will have gone. My how time flies!

This year was pretty tough on the pecan industry. In late spring we had a freeze that hurt some crops and wiped out others in Oklahoma. In the summer we suffered through over 100 days of 100+ degree heat with no rain. The drought and the wildfires took care of what the freeze had missed.

The Montz Orchards did put on about 25% of a crop...thanks in large part to our irrigation system.

Due to the lack of pecans, prices rose considerably this year, but the Pecan Shed was still cheaper than grocery stores and Walmart. Our retail sales were about what they were the year before and that was something to be very thankful for!!! Some of our friends in the pecan business did not even open their stores this year...which is just heartbreaking.

This past year the Pecan Shed also celebrated 30 years of being in business! We had a week long celebration, ribbon cuttings, and more. It still amazes me that my parents had the guts, the drive, and the dedication to make this business work. I remember some years where times were tough (and being a kid...I am sure I was sheltered from a lot of the tough stuff). I remember my parents doing just about anything to make their business successful. It required long hours...sweat...and tears...but the joy was in its success. Thirty years is quite an accomplishment our family and our staff can be very proud of!

We also tried out lots of new fudge flavors...including...Jalapeno, Root Beer, S'mores, Fruitcake, and Watermelon...just to name a few. Some were big hits (my new favorite is the S'mores...it will be the fudge flavor of the month for March)! Some were not such big hits (Watermelon was cool looking but it had an acquired taste to it!)...but all the trials were fun and gave us something new for our customers to taste!

In our "Pecan Shed Family" we had a baby born...a graduation...engagements (yes plural!)...and so many more good things to happen to all my girls. We also had some sad times...and they were sad but we made it through by leaning on each other. Through it all the "family" is still that...family!

The Montz family has grown and changed too...and by that I mean Presley and Dotty are getting bigger and growing up into sweet...okay most of the time sweet...little girls. They are now 6 and 4 years old respectively. Presley started kindergarten and Dotty started her preschool without Presley down the hall. It has been a great year for all of us!

As we look ahead to 2012 we have lots of hope! We hope for rain...everybody start doing their rain dance now!!! We hope for prosperity, peace, and patience. With anything in life you have to take the good with the bad. We hope 2012 is definitely on the good side.

We wish all the best for all our customers and vendors in 2012. May your life grow and be blessed every day.

Happy New Year!