United States: Pecan producers face losses of up to 100% after Helene

Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction across the southeastern United States, causing fatalities and significant agricultural losses. One of the hardest hit states was Georgia, which saw its pecan industry significantly impacted. Lenny Wells, professor of horticulture and horticultural extension specialist at the University of Georgia, spoke to Fruit Portal about the state’s pecan industry, Hurricane Helene losses, and how hedge trimming helped save many trees. Georgia is the largest pecan-producing state in the United States, with annual volumes ranging from 80 to 150 million pounds. Most of this production takes place in the southern half of the state, an area known as “the fall line” or “the Georgia coastal plain region,” according to Wells. “Most of the areas where pecans are grown are arid regions, and you typically only see two or three varieties,” Wells explains. “In Georgia, we grow about 20 varieties, some of which are older and are being phased out as we plant ...