Did you know that pecans, though closely related to the walnut, are the only nut that is native to America? Pecans are believed to have been a staple of the Native American diet and that they often used them for trade. Though the pecan is currently grown in other countries, the U.S. still produces more than 80% of the world’s pecans, which is hundreds of thousands of tons each year.Pecans are great addition to healthy diet and can be utilized in many ways to add to their versatility. Chopped pecans are great in a salad. They add a nice crunch and are packed with nutrition. In addition to being extremely protein dense, pecans contain vitamin e, are rich in omega 6 fatty acids and have an abundance of manganese among other things. Not bad for a food grown right here at home.
Pecans are so useful that even the by product has value. Pecan shells make great mulch. All you have to do is grind the shells and add them to your compost. Pecan shell mulch is effective at keeping soil moist and best of all it is cheap and readily available, so pick some up next time you are Shopping in Tucson. Another thing that pecans are good for that you might not have thought of, is gift giving. At The Green Valley Pecan Company Store you can find gifts suitable for everyone you can think of.
Sweet treats make great gifts and you can find a variety, from chocolate covered to everyone’s favorite, praline. For the ones that can’t have sweets, there is an array of pecan flavored coffees that have been local favorites for over 100 years.If you just want some of the best pecans available, perhaps to use in recipes, you can buy them by the pound while you out shopping in Tucson. In the shell, roasted and lightly salted or however you like. Throw some pecans in your morning oatmeal or enjoy a handful as a snack. You can feel about eating them because they are good for you and they are grown right here at home, by a family owned operation.
