Almost Harvest Time

When the pecans start to crack open their outer hull like the ones in this picture have it is a sure sign that "harvest time" is soon approaching.

I took this picture of our Pawnee pecans just today so it is in "real time" so to speak.

Pawnee pecans are the first to open up and thus are the first to be harvested.

If all goes well we should have pecans in the store and available to our customers by October 11th or at the very latest October 18th.

Other varieties that will be ready to harvest later include the Wichita, Choctaw, and Cheyenne pecans.

2009 Pawnee Pecans

The 2009 crop of Pawnee pecans is dwindling fast. We just sold our last two bulk cases today. Thus, all we have left is what we have bagged up in either the one-pound or the four-pound bags.

Not to fear though. New Crop Pawnee pecans should be arriving no later than October 18th.

The Pawnee pecan is our most popular seller at the Pecan Shed. This pecan is considered a "junior mammoth", has golden coloring, and is good for both baking or snacking.

We also still have the 2009 Wichita pecans that are similar in size to the Pawnee and have more oil.

Weevil Watch

In this family pecan business I know the role I play. My job is to sell pecans to customers both local and (at times) world wide. I am to create a store and a marketing plan that helps to promote the Pecan Shed...who we are, what we do, and how great we do it. My main objective (along with the help of Mom and all my employees) is to sell as many pecans as possible and I really do love what I do.

Jake's job is to make sure I have pecans to sell. He and Dad take care of the pecan orchards. They worry about spraying schedules, irrigation, weather patterns, crop forecasts, etc.

I have a business degree from Midwestern State University. Jake has a horticulture degree from Tarleton State University. (Mom and Dad have an "experience" degree from The School of Life.)

I have a limited amount of knowledge as to what actually happens in order to get the pecans from the tree to my store. I just know what to do with them once I get them.

So today when I called Dad to ask what he was up to he said they were spraying the orchards for pecan weevils.

I asked why when we were so close to harvest. He said that a bad case of weevils at this point could wipe out our entire pecan crop. I am smart enough to know that would be a bad thing.

I thought weevils were a problem early on. I didn't know they could be bad right now. Dad informed me that pecan weevils come out when the ground gets damp and this allows the weevil to climb up out of the ground and then infest the pecan trees.

Who knew?!

I pointed out that we had not had rain in the last few days but according to Dad since it rained last week we were still spraying in order to keep those "bad bugs" at bay.

Note: Mom will tell you that she knew we were spraying for weevils based on our chemical bills. Another reason why pecans can seem expensive at times and why we never claim our pecans are organic.

So for those of you out there with a pecan tree, or two, or two thousand you might want to be on a weevil watch. The good news is you still have time to put out some preventative spray if you don't see any. The bad news is if you DO see one or two you might have already lost the battle before you knew there was a fight.

New TCU!

We now have TCU garden flags and large applique flags (28" by 44").

Support your Horned Frog today!

Find Our Fudge at the Feathered Nest

The Feathered Nest located in Henrietta Texas is now carrying some of our delicious homemade fudge. Sherry Fleming (owner of the Feathered Nest) came by just yesterday to pick up the Chocolate Pecan Fudge which is packed full of Pecan Shed pecans.

If you have not been in to the Feathered Nest lately you have got to stop by. They have the cutest home decor items, jewelry, clothes, purses, and so much more. I always find a "must have" every time I go in. Her store in Henrietta is just up from the square on the east side. She also has a location in Sikes Senter Mall down towards the food court.

Pioneer Reunion is the weekend so I hope the Feathered Nest is just packed full of people and I hope Sherry has success with our Chocolate Pecan Fudge!

Happy Birthday Kathy!

Today is Kathy McGhee's Birthday. Kathy is very special for many reasons. She has been with the Pecan Shed almost since the beginning, she now is our Head Fudge Maker (most of the time she is the only fudge maker), and most of all she is like a member of the family.

Growing up and to this day, Kathy treats me and Jake just like her own children and she loves Presley and Dotty like grandkids as well. She is Mom's best friend and she is loved by those she works with.

Kathy is one in a million and we love her. Happy Birthday Kathy!

Cracking Open

The 2010 crop of Pawnee pecans have just begun to start cracking open. A few of the trees around our orchards have started to pop those outer green shells (called the hull) to show big, beautiful, and well filled out Pawnee pecans!

Of course we still have a few weeks to go and we will need help from Mother Nature but this is all a very good sign.

Once the Pawnee pecans have really opened up we will start running shakers and harvesters to pick the pecans. Then the pecans must be cleaned, inspected, sized, run through dryers (to take out any "green" taste they may have since they are the first ones harvested), they are inspected again, and then they finally make their way to our store.

Shelled pecans take a little longer because they must be cracked and shelled and inspected a third time before they can be bagged and placed on the shelf for our customers.

Still the first sighting of pecans is all very exciting! It means all the work and waiting and worrying we did since last January through the summer and until now was worth it...of course we will still wait and worry (which is a lot of work) until we have the pecans on the ground and in the store!