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The Shelled Pecan
The pecan is considered one of the most valuable North American nut species. The history of pecans can be traced back to the 16th century and is unique among tree nuts as it is indigenous or native only to North America. The trees grew originally in central and eastern North America and the river valleys of Mexico.Pecans were widely used by pre-colonial residents; favored because they were easier to shell than any other North American nut species. Pecans were also preferred for their flavorful taste and were readily available to North American tribes in the United States and Mexico. The tribes also used the pecans as a major food source. Harvesting Harvesting, accumulation, and marketing generally begin in October in parts of the "Pecan Belt" and extend into February and March the following year. Packaging
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Typical Shelf Life of Pecans Expected shelf life of raw pecan nut meats is up to two years at 0° F (-17° C). Pecans may be refrozen repeatedly without loss of flavor or texture. Keep in a cool place with relative humidity at or below 72%. To insure freshness, store below 41° F (5° C). It has been found that pecan pieces have a shorter storage life than pecan halves.
Storage Frozen pecans should be tempered by placing them in a cooler room with temperatures of 36° F - 47° F (2.2° C - 8.3° C) with relative humidity of 65% to 75% for a period of 72 hours before moving them into ambient temperature. This will allow any condensation that may form on the pecans to dissipate. If pecans are not tempered properly, the condensation that may form on the pecans will create conditions where mold is likely to develop. Therefore, a series of gradually increasing temperatures is desirable. Pecans should not be stored with odorous products such as apples, onions, spices, etc., and should not be stored in facilities cooled by ammonia.Preventing Infestation Insects can be a problem in nuts; in order to prevent insect infestation store below 46° F (7° C) or keep nuts sealed in an airtight container, especially if they are shelled. Sources National Pecan Shellers Association |
The earliest walnuts to enter California were know as “Mission” walnuts and were small with hard shells.
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