All They're Cracked Up To Be: Georgia Pecan Farms
As the seasons change and the temperature cools, many Georgians begin to dream of filling their bellies with Thanksgiving treats like steaming sweet potato casseroles, giant savory turkeys, and pies made with none other than Georgia’s beloved nut, pecans.
Although it’s the largest pecan-producing state in the nation, Georgia was relatively late on the scene of pecan production. It was not until the late 1800s that farmers in the coastal areas of the state began producing and selling pecans, albeit on a much less significant scale than we see today. In the early 20th century, Georgia experienced what was known as the “pecan boom,” and by the 1920s more than 2.5 million pounds of pecans were coming out of Georgia. Now, pecan production averages 100 million pounds annually.
At Georgia Grown, we are lucky to work with some of our state's best and brightest farms and farmers. With roughly 2,600 pecan producers throughout the state, consumers have no shortage of places to look when trying to get their hands on these crispy little treats.
Here are the best places to get your own Georgia Grown pecans:
Lane Southern Orchards - Fort Valley, Georgia
Ellis Bros. Pecans - Vienna, Georgia
Merritt Pecan Company - Weston, Georgia
South Georgia Pecan Company - Valdosta, Georgia
Mascot Pecan Shelling Company - Glennville, Georgia
Atwell Pecan Company - Wrens, Georgia
Georgia Grown Recipe
As the holidays near, use this nutty favorite in your spread with this pecan cobbler recipe.
Georgia Grown Pecan Cobbler
Ingredients
6 Tablespoons butter
2 cup pecans
1 teaspoon cinnamon, split
1 ½ cup self-rising flour
1 ½ cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cup packed light brown sugar
1 ½ cup hot water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add butter to a 9x13-inch cake pan or casserole dish and melt in oven.
- Once butter is melted, sprinkle pecans over butter.
- In a bowl, mix flour, granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, milk and vanilla. Stir to combine but do not over-mix.
- Pour batter over butter and pecans, do not mix.
- Combine brown sugar with ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over batter; do not stir.
- Carefully pour the hot water over the mixture; do not stir.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cobbler will not be firm.
Unique Products with Georgia Grown Pecans
All around Georgia, pecans are becoming recognized not only as a delicious addition to pies and cobblers, but also as a versatile nut that can be used in a variety of products. Check out the list below for an assortment of Georgia Grown products using pecans:
