October is Pecan Month in Texas
With the cooler mornings and evenings, it is starting to feel a little like fall. This cooler weather should have everyone thinking about pecan pie and other great pecan dishes. You know fall is here when new crop pecans start becoming available. Despite a very tough August and September, the pecan crop on managed acres looks well. There will be some improved variety of pecans harvested and the quality looks good. Yes, local pecan producers have been gearing up for harvest and there will soon be some new crop pecans for everyone to enjoy. With nut sales averaging 18 to 24 million yearly, Comanche County is one of the top counties in the U.S. for pecan production. Certainly, pecans are a big business in Comanche County and October is Texas Pecan Month.
Not only do pecans taste good but they are also extremely nutrient rich and healthy. The number of health benefits that have been discovered in scientific nutrition and health research studies on the pecan are amazing. Take a minute to look at some of these studies on the Texas Pecan Growers Association website: http://www.tpga. org/index.php, the Texas pecan Board site: https:// www. texaspecanboard. com/ or the American Pecan Council website: https:// americanpecan. com/. You can also find lots of excellent recipes and other information about pecans on these sites.
Here is a list of some of the nutrition benefits offered by eating pecans: ■ 90% of the fats in pecans are unsaturated (about 6 0 % monounsaturated/ 30% polyunsaturated)
■ A serving of pecans (30g) provides about 25 percent more oleic acid than a serving of olive oil (one tablespoon)
■ Pecans are cholesterol free, sodium free, and fiber-rich
■ Pecans are a valuable plant protein source and contain more than 19 vitamins & minerals
■ Unlike chicken, you will not get worms from eating pecans
■ They are an excellent source of gamma tocopherol, an important type of vitamin E
■ They contain concentrated amounts of natural plant sterols, touted for their cholesterol- lowering ability
■ Pecans contain a variety of phytochemicals
■ Nuts are recommended by the American Heart Association and U.S.
Dietary Guidelines as a desirable source of hearthealthy unsaturated fat While the health benefits are wonderful, it is the rich, buttery, sweet flavor of the pecan that makes it popular. Fall is an excellent time to enjoy pecans in holiday recipes or just by themselves. Comanche County has a strong heritage associated with pecans and local pecan growers and families. Our local growers struggle with extreme weather conditions and record input costs. Be sure to support these local farmers by stopping at one of the local pecan outlets in the county this fall for some locally grown nutritious pecans. Be sure to ask for locally grown pecans, you will not be sorry.