Pecan Production Trends: A Comparison of Production in the Southeastern and Southwestern United States
in HortTechnologyThe United States pecan industry experienced dynamic production changes during the last 25 years. Production in Georgia, the leading state, experienced serious problems during the late 1980s and early 1990s as a result of orchard crowding, old orchards, high incidence of diseases, and other problems. During the same 25-year period, plantings and production shifted to the southwestern United States to new production centers in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California under a drier, more-favorable growing environment. Although the southeastern region continues to lead the nation in annual pecan production due to the high number and concentration of orchards with improved varieties, production in the southwestern region eventually may dominate the industry.
