While America harvested a staggering 268 million pounds of pecans last year, a closer look reveals a dynamic, high-stakes industry where Georgia dominates production, New Mexico sets the yield standard, and Mexico supplies three-quarters of the world’s entire crop.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States produced 268 million pounds of pecans on 152,000 acres with an average yield of 1,763 pounds per acre
- Georgia led U.S. pecan production in 2022 with 133 million pounds from 84,000 acres at 1,580 pounds per acre yield
- Texas produced 68 million pounds of pecans in 2022 on 41,000 acres with a yield of 1,659 pounds per acre
- U.S. per capita pecan consumption reached 0.9 pounds in 2022, up 5% from 2021
- Total U.S. pecan disappearance (supply minus exports) was 200 million pounds in 2022/23
- Retail pecan sales in U.S. grew 8% to $1.2 billion in 2022
- U.S. pecan industry generated $4.5 billion economic impact in 2022 including indirect jobs
- Pecan farming supports 22,000 direct jobs across 15 states
- Total U.S. pecan value chain employs 65,000 workers
- U.S. pecan exports to China valued at $150 million in 2022
- Mexico imported 25 million pounds of U.S. pecans in 2022
- Vietnam was top export market with 35 million pounds in 2022/23
- U.S. pecan prices averaged $2.85/lb for improved in-shell 2022/23
- Native pecans wholesale $1.20/lb in-shell early 2023 season
- Shelled pecan prices peaked at $4.50/lb for halves in Dec 2022
Georgia leads a robust U.S. pecan industry that produces hundreds of millions of pounds annually.
Consumption
1U.S. per capita pecan consumption reached 0.9 pounds in 2022, up 5% from 2021
Verified2Total U.S. pecan disappearance (supply minus exports) was 200 million pounds in 2022/23
Verified3Retail pecan sales in U.S. grew 8% to $1.2 billion in 2022
Verified465% of U.S. consumers purchase pecans during holiday seasons
Directional5Pecans rank as the #1 nut in U.S. snacking per capita at 1.1 ounces monthly
Single source6U.S. household penetration for pecans is 45%, higher in South at 60%
Verified7Baking uses 40% of domestic pecan consumption, followed by snacking at 30%
Verified8Online pecan sales surged 25% in 2022 to $250 million
Verified972% of millennials prefer pecans in trail mixes and snacks
Directional10U.S. confectionery sector uses 15 million pounds of pecans annually
Single source11Ice cream manufacturers incorporate 5 million pounds of pecans yearly
Verified12Pecan consumption in salads grew 12% YoY in foodservice 2022
Verified13Gen Z consumption of flavored pecans up 18% in 2023 surveys
Verified1455% of U.S. pecans consumed shelled, 45% in-shell
Directional15Health-conscious consumers drive 30% rise in raw pecan purchases 2018-2022
Single source16Pecans in breakfast foods consumed by 25% of U.S. households weekly
Verified17Corporate gifting accounts for 10% of pecan retail volume
Verified18Vegan market boosts pecan butter sales by 20% annually
Verified19U.S. pecan nut butter market size $150 million in 2022
Directional20Candy and chocolate segment uses 25% of shelled pecans
Single source21Hotel and restaurant pecan use up 10% post-pandemic
Verified22Organic pecan consumption doubled to 10 million pounds since 2018
Verified23Pecans in protein bars: 8 million pounds annually
Verified24Southern U.S. per capita consumption 1.5 pounds vs national 0.9
Directional25Export-driven supply leaves 60% for domestic use
Single source26Pecan pie remains top use, 35% of holiday baking
VerifiedConsumption Interpretation
Americans are clearly going nuts for pecans, with everyone from millennials snacking on them to health-conscious Gen Zers flavoring their salads, proving that this humble nut has cracked the code on everything from holiday pies to year-round protein bars.
Economic Impact
1U.S. pecan industry generated $4.5 billion economic impact in 2022 including indirect jobs
Verified2Pecan farming supports 22,000 direct jobs across 15 states
Verified3Total U.S. pecan value chain employs 65,000 workers
Verified4Georgia pecan industry contributes $1.2 billion to state GDP annually
Directional5Texas pecan revenue at farm gate $300 million in 2022
Single source6Processing and shelling adds $1 billion value to raw pecans yearly
Verified7Pecan exports generated $500 million in foreign exchange for U.S. in 2022
Verified8Retail markup on pecans averages 150%, boosting wholesale value
Verified91,200 pecan growers operate commercially in the U.S.
Directional10Average pecan farm size 125 acres, with revenue $5,000 per acre
Single source11Shelling plants: 150 facilities process 80% of U.S. crop
Verified12R&D investment in pecans $10 million annually via checkoff
Verified13Tourism from pecan trails generates $50 million yearly
Verified14Insurance payouts for pecan crop losses averaged $20 million/year 2018-2022
Directional15Pecan-related ag tourism visits 2 million annually
Single source16Multiplier effect: $2.50 economic output per $1 pecan sales
Verified17New Mexico pecan industry $150 million direct output
Verified18Labor costs 25% of pecan production expenses
Verified19Equipment and inputs cost growers $1,200 per acre annually
Directional20Wholesale value of shelled pecans $2.5 billion in 2022
Single sourceEconomic Impact Interpretation
While $4.5 billion grows on trees, it's the 65,000 livelihoods rooted in the humble pecan that prove this industry is a mighty oak of economic stability.
Exports
1U.S. pecan exports to China valued at $150 million in 2022
Verified2Mexico imported 25 million pounds of U.S. pecans in 2022
Verified3Vietnam was top export market with 35 million pounds in 2022/23
Verified4U.S. pecan exports totaled 138 million pounds in 2022, 52% of production
Directional5India imported 20 million pounds of U.S. pecans in 2022, up 15%
Single source6EU countries took 15 million pounds, led by Netherlands at 8 million
Verified7Canada received 12 million pounds of U.S. pecans in 2022
Verified8UAE exports destination for 10 million pounds annually
Verified9Export value per pound averaged $3.50 for shelled pecans in 2022
Directional10Shelled pecans 85% of export volume, in-shell 15%
Single source11China market share of U.S. exports dropped to 10% in 2022 from 30%
Verified12New markets like South Korea imported 5 million pounds in 2022
Verified13Logistics costs rose 20% for pecan exports in 2022 due to shipping
Verified14U.S. pecan import from Mexico: 50 million pounds in 2022
Directional15Phytosanitary compliance enables 90% approval rate for exports
Single source16Container shipments of pecans: 20,000 TEUs annually
Verified17Duty-free access via USMCA boosted Mexico exports by 10%
Verified18Asia-Pacific region 60% of U.S. pecan export volume
Verified19Average export growth 5% CAGR 2018-2022
Directional20U.S. imports 20% of global supply mainly from Mexico
Single source21Brazil emerging as exporter with 1,000 tons to U.S. in 2023
Verified22Digital traceability covers 70% of exported pecans
VerifiedExports Interpretation
Despite its noble pursuit of global nut domination, the U.S. pecan industry finds itself in a complex shell game—paying top dollar to import Mexican pecans while deftly juggling its own exports to everywhere from Vietnam to the UAE, all while navigating China's retreat and a web of logistics, tariffs, and digital paperwork.
Prices
1U.S. pecan prices averaged $2.85/lb for improved in-shell 2022/23
Verified2Native pecans wholesale $1.20/lb in-shell early 2023 season
Verified3Shelled pecan prices peaked at $4.50/lb for halves in Dec 2022
Verified4Georgia jumbo in-shell quoted at $3.20/lb mid-2023
Directional5Export parity prices drove domestic up 15% in 2022
Single source6Organic shelled pecans $6.50/lb wholesale 2023
Verified7Retail pecan price inflation 12% in 2022 vs food CPI 8%
Verified8Texas Ortiz variety $3.80/lb in-shell 2023 average
Verified9MPCI-insured pecan price election $1.90/lb for 2023 crop
Directional10Futures market for pecans launched with $3.00/lb benchmark
Single source11Yield-price inverse: high yields dropped prices 20% in 2021
Verified12China demand pushed junior mammoth to $4.10/lb shelled
Verified13Farm gate price Georgia $0.85/lb nutmeat equivalent 2022
Verified14Retail holiday pecan pie mix $8.50/lb, up 10%
Directional15Input cost inflation added $0.50/lb to breakeven prices
Single source16Shelled pecan spread $3.80-$5.20/lb by size grade 2023
Verified17In-shell price volatility +/-25% seasonal swing
Verified18Breakeven yield-adjusted price $1.10/lb in-shell Texas
Verified19Premium varieties 20% price premium over standard
Directional20Drought reduced supply, lifting prices 30% in NM 2022
Single source21Wholesale club packs $4.99/lb shelled average
Verified22U.S. pecan acreage expansion slowed to 1% in 2023 amid high prices
VerifiedPrices Interpretation
It seems the pecan market has decided that everything from a Georgia jumbo to a Texas Ortiz is now worth its weight in gold, or at least a very expensive pie filling, as prices soared on everything from Chinese demand to drought while farmers desperately tried to keep up with a breakeven point that was always one step ahead.
Production
1In 2022, the United States produced 268 million pounds of pecans on 152,000 acres with an average yield of 1,763 pounds per acre
Verified2Georgia led U.S. pecan production in 2022 with 133 million pounds from 84,000 acres at 1,580 pounds per acre yield
Verified3Texas produced 68 million pounds of pecans in 2022 on 41,000 acres with a yield of 1,659 pounds per acre
Verified4New Mexico's pecan production reached 40 million pounds in 2022 from 15,500 acres yielding 2,581 pounds per acre
Directional5Arizona contributed 15 million pounds of pecans in 2022 on 5,800 acres with 2,586 pounds per acre
Single source6Global pecan production in 2022/23 was estimated at 678,000 metric tons, led by the U.S. with 120,000 metric tons
Verified7Mexico produced 510,000 metric tons of pecans in 2022/23, accounting for 75% of world production
Verified8China's pecan production grew to 24,000 metric tons in 2022/23 due to expanded orchards
Verified9South Africa's pecan output was 22,000 metric tons in 2022/23 from 25,000 hectares
Directional10Australia's pecan production hit 7,200 metric tons in 2022/23, up 10% from prior year
Single source11U.S. pecan bearing acres increased to 152,000 in 2022 from 145,000 in 2021
Verified12Pecan nutmeat yield averaged 52% in U.S. processing facilities in 2022
Verified13Improved varieties accounted for 60% of U.S. pecan production in 2022
Verified14Organic pecan production in the U.S. reached 5 million pounds in 2022
Directional15Georgia's pecan orchards span 140,000 total acres including non-bearing
Single source16Texas pecan industry supports 10,000 direct jobs in production
Verified17New Mexico's pecan valley produces 90% of state's output on irrigated lands
Verified18U.S. pecan seedling trees still comprise 40% of bearing acreage
Verified19World pecan tree plantings expanded by 15% from 2018-2023
Directional20Brazil's emerging pecan production reached 1,500 metric tons in 2023
Single source21U.S. pecan crop value at farm gate was $623 million in 2022
Verified22Average U.S. pecan orchard age is 25 years with many over 50
Verified23Irrigation covers 85% of U.S. pecan acreage, critical for yields
Verified24Pecan production in Oklahoma totaled 8 million pounds in 2022
Directional25Florida's small pecan output was 1.2 million pounds in 2022
Single source26California produced 2.5 million pounds of pecans in 2022
Verified27Louisiana pecan production: 0.5 million pounds in 2022
Verified28North Carolina: 0.3 million pounds pecans in 2022
Verified29Missouri pecan output: 0.2 million pounds in 2022
Directional30U.S. non-bearing pecan acres: 28,000 in 2022
Single sourceProduction Interpretation
America may have invented the pecan pie, but it's clear Mexico now owns the orchard, producing three-quarters of the world's supply while states like Georgia and Texas chase higher yields through irrigation and improved varieties.
Trends
1Global pecan acreage forecast 500,000 ha by 2025
Verified2Climate resilient varieties in 30% new plantings since 2020
Verified3Mechanized harvest now 95% of U.S. operations
Verified4Precision ag adoption 40% in pecan orchards 2023
Directional5Water use efficiency improved 25% via deficit irrigation
Single source6Export diversification to 80 countries from 50 in 2010
Verified7Organic certification up 15% YoY in U.S. pecans
Verified8Plant-based pecan milk market $100M by 2025 projection
Verified9Scab disease resistance bred into 20 new cultivars
Directional10Drone scouting covers 70% large orchards >500 acres
Single source11Sustainability certifications held by 50% exporters
Verified12Pecan shell biochar production up 200% for carbon credits
Verified13AI yield prediction accuracy 90% in trials 2023
Verified14Female growers 15% of U.S. pecan operations 2023 survey
Directional15E-commerce direct-to-consumer 20% sales growth
Single source16Zinc nanofertilizers boost yields 18% in trials
Verified17Pecan wood demand for smoking up 30%
Verified18Regenerative ag practices on 10% acreage for soil health
Verified19Frozen pecan storage tech extends shelf life 50%
Directional20Youth involvement programs train 5,000 annually
Single source21Hemp intercropping trials yield +10% pecans
Verified22Blockchain tracking from farm to fork 60% volume
VerifiedTrends Interpretation
The global pecan industry is sprinting toward a sustainable, high-tech future, cultivating not just 500,000 hectares of climate-resilient, efficiently harvested nuts, but also fostering export diversity, youthful engagement, and surprising innovations—from pecan milk to biochar—all while using drones, AI, and blockchain to ensure that this beloved native crop continues to thrive.
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