The golden native pecan is one of America’s greatest treasures.  Even in 1541, Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca wrote that the pecan is the “favorite food and sometimes whole subsistence of the American Indian."  A couple of centuries later, pecans quickly became a staple of our founding fathers – George Washington even planted a pecan grove at Mount Vernon and was known to call them his favorite snack!

            Surveys of bakers and candy makers have also consistently shown that of all the nut varieties available, the pecan is the best tasting. And, unlike most nuts, pecans don’t have to be roasted, baked, salted, or sugared to taste good - they are delicious right out of the shell!  Pecans have also been proven to be tremendously healthy for our everyday diets while they are rich in protein and numerous in many other vitamins.  They are also an excellent source for potassium and phosphorus – important minerals often lacking in our diet.  But even more importantly, pecans are extremely heart healthy!  Pecans are very low in sodium and are a great source of oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat many authorities recommend be included in our daily diet. Pecans have the highest oleic acid content of all nuts, with three to four times more than walnuts, for example.  Oleic acid, also common in olive oil, has been found to lower blood pressure, lower and neutralize LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and maintain or increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol.)  Studies have shown that pecans both help delay and control diabetes, as well!  So whether you use this unique American nut in your favorite recipes or enjoy them as a snack, your body (and your taste buds!) will thank you.

Sources of fresh pecans include the following:

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