Ingredients in Focus is Food Dive’s bite-size column highlighting interesting developments in the ingredients sector.
Hurricane Helene has caused significant damage to pecan crops in Georgia, a beloved export of the state. Despite this recent devastation, pecan trees in Georgia have faced destruction over the past 50 years, with a 70% loss in trees impacting farmers.
It takes 20 to 25 years for a pecan tree to reach full production potential, making the impact of Hurricane Helene particularly devastating. Experts estimate that about one-third of Georgia’s pecan production area has been damaged, resulting in a loss of over 36 million pounds of this year’s crop in the storm-affected region.
Founder and CEO of pecan milk brand PKN, Laura Shenkar, emphasizes the importance of ensuring supply chains are resilient in the face of disasters. Farmers and food manufacturers must be prepared for future challenges to protect their livelihoods.
Pecan growers in Georgia and Alabama rely on these trees for their livelihood, making the recent losses from Hurricane Helene particularly devastating. Shenkar points out that pecans are indigenous to U.S. soil and have weathered worse conditions than the recent hurricane.
Looking at almonds as a model for supply chain resilience, Shenkar suggests that partnerships and cooperatives can help build resilience to disasters. PKN works with partners like Southern Roots to provide consumers with a direct connection to farmers, supporting multi-generational farms within the cooperative.
Pecans also offer sustainability attributes that are yet to be fully explored, including the potential for upcycling pecans to create new products like pecan milk. Shenkar highlights the untapped potential of pecan milk in the market, with only a few companies like PKN, Pecana, and Nuthatch focusing on this unique product.
To ensure a viable pecan product in the future, Shenkar stresses the importance of collaboration between companies, farmers, and shellers. By working together, they can ensure a sustainable future for pecan production in the years to come.