National Pecan Day is on Wednesday, April 14, 2027, and it falls on April 14 every year. It celebrates the buttery nut that fills pies, pralines and sticky buns. Unlike most nuts we eat, the pecan is native to North America.
When Is National Pecan Day?
It’s always April 14. Pecan pie often gets its own separate day in the summer, so this date is for the nut in every form.
Who Started National Pecan Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Background: a native American nut
Pecan trees, Carya illinoinensis, are native to North America. The Texas State Historical Association says the name comes from an Algonquian word for “hard-shelled nut.”
In Texas, pecans grow wild along river valleys in 152 counties. The Texas Legislature named the pecan the state tree in 1919.
Native Americans were the first to cultivate pecan trees, North Carolina State Extension notes. In 1846, an enslaved gardener in Louisiana known as Antoine is credited with successfully grafting an improved variety, a key step toward modern pecan orchards.
Why Pecans Deserve a Day
The U.S. grows nearly 80% of the world’s pecans, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. In 2022, the crop totaled 278 million pounds from 409,000 acres, worth more than $500 million.
Georgia led with 132 million pounds, followed by New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. Fifteen states grow pecans commercially.
Harvest runs from late October into January, with the peak around Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s why pecan pie shows up on so many holiday tables.
How to Celebrate National Pecan Day
- Toast them first: bake pecan halves at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Make pralines: cook sugar, butter and cream, stir in pecans and spoon onto parchment.
- Bake pecan pie bars: they’re easier to share than a whole pie.
- Candy them: toss pecans in egg white, cinnamon and sugar, then bake for salads or snacking.
- Go savory: crust chicken or fish with chopped pecans and Dijon mustard.
- Visit a grove: in pecan states, some farms sell fresh nuts and offer tours in season.
- Bake pecan sandies: fold chopped toasted pecans into shortbread dough for classic buttery cookies.
- Top your oatmeal: add toasted pecans, sliced banana and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce pecan?
Both “pih-KAHN” and “PEE-can” are widely used. Pronunciation often depends on where in the U.S. you live.
How should you store pecans?
Their oils can turn rancid. Shelled pecans keep up to nine months in the refrigerator or up to two years in the freezer, NC State Extension says.
Are pecans tree nuts?
Yes. For food labels, pecans count as tree nuts, one of the major allergens the FDA requires companies to declare.