Summary
The article discusses the history of pecans in the United States, highlighting how they became popular over time. Pecans, which are native to the southern U.S., are now a major crop, with the U.S. producing 80% of the world's supply. The article also describes how pecans are used and how their cultivation practices evolved, including the use of grafting to improve quality.
Key Facts
- Pecans are native to the southern United States and were used by Native Americans as early as 8,000 years ago.
- Today, the United States grows 80% of the world’s pecan crop, with most of it staying within the country.
- The name "pecan" comes from the Algonquin word "pakani," meaning "a nut too hard to crack by hand."
- Pecans are technically a type of fruit called a drupe, not a nut.
- The first documented purposeful planting of pecan trees was in New York in 1722.
- Pecans became recognized for their economic potential in the late 1800s.
- Grafting, a technique to improve pecan quality, became popular to ensure good yields from cultivated trees.
