The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports 251.5 million pounds of pecan production for 2023, a 9.4% drop from 2022.
In its monthly crop report of December 8, 2023, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cites a 1.4% increase over previous estimates.
This year’s production marks a slight fall by 9.4% from the 2022 season, which bagged 278 million pounds of pecans. Though an improvement from 2018’s 241 million pounds, 2023’s output trails 2017 when production hit 305 million pounds.
This production figure, however, will insure the yearly monetary returns of between $400 million and $800 million. It will also reinforce United States’ current status as the world’s leader in pecan production.
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Production Margins Shifting
American pecan production has revealed a seesaw pattern in the past 5 years. In 2019 the margin rose to 256 million pounds and then peaked to 304 million pounds in 2020. The same seesaw repeated itself for 2021 with 256 million pounds and 2022 with 278 million pounds.
With the 2023 production down to 252 million pounds, it is only rational that the 2024 figures may go up. This will compete the historical trend since 2019.
The production shift is also happening among the 14 states with the highest pecan production. In the pecan belt of southern and southwestern U.S., state-by-state margins have been altering over the past decade. Back in 2003, Georgia, New Mexico and Texas had the lion’s share but by 2023, Arizona and Oklahoma had pared.
By 2023, Arizona had joined this select list, and is now the third biggest producer of pecans in the U.S. In 2022, Georgia was leading in production.
Here is a representation of the 10-year shift in production by the states in 2003 and 2023, respectively.
| State | 2003 (million pounds) | 2023 (million pounds) |
| Georgia | 71.7 | 125.5 |
| New Mexico | 50.3 | 79 |
| Arizona | 2.2 | 37 |
| Texas | 61.7 | 25.5 |
| Oklahoma | 14 | 7.5 |
U.S. Pecan Harvesting
The pecan harvest in the United States happens from October through December. This is after a painstaking wait of between 7 and 10 years for the average pecan tree to mature. Thereafter, the yearly regrowth of fruits occurs from mid-spring (April) through early fall (September). A single tree can continue this annual regeneration for decades.
A typical harvesting process is usually a lesson in patience. While some nuts fall down on their own, farmers often have to expedite the harvest by mechanical tree shakers.
After the harvest, farmers begin an assiduous procedure of sorting good and bad pecans. The best quality with intact shells goes into immediate packaging. This batch consists of in-shell pecans, which wholesalers buy for their retail clients.
The remainder of the screened pecans, which include small and split nuts undergo shelling. These kernels reach the domestic markets and local bakeries where they make pecan pie desserts.
Ultimately, even as USDA announces a shorter crop for 2023, U.S. pecan demand is being fueled by the holiday season.