By Clint Thompson
Georgia pecan growers are understandably concerned heading into the 2025 season. Prices are historically low. Hurricane Helene devastated much of last year’s crop.
Still, producers remained hopeful at this year’s Georgia Pecan Growers Association (GPGA) Conference and Trade Show.
“Moods are here and there. A lot of our growers are very positive and are continuously being positive, no matter how bad of a year they had crop wise, yield wise or price wise,” said GPGA Executive Director Mary Mikelyn Bruorton. “We would love to see better prices, just like every other commodity in the state. But we’re holding in there and feel confident that with India coming up and if we can get the PQ code for the in-shelled pecans, that it’ll raise the price of pecans and get growers back on their feet.”
India would provide producers another exporting outlet, though industry leaders need to continue educating the country about pecans and its benefits. Georgia growers also have to be careful in placing all of their exporting hope in one country.
“We don’t want to say it’s like our next China by any means, because we lived and learned from China. We put all of our eggs in China, and we hit a downfall,” Bruorton said. “We aren’t putting all of our eggs in India, but we are doing a majority in India. APC (American Pecan Council) and APPB (American Pecan Promotion Board), our national organizations are not just focusing on India as well, they’re focusing in the UK, Germany, Korea, Canada, Mexico; all across the world. We feel very positive about India. It will take some time. We’re still building those relationships, still getting education over there about what a pecan is.”