When: March 25
The pecan was cultivated by Indigenous peoples of the Mississippi Valley for thousands of years before European contact. It's the only major nut native to North America and the basis for one of the most debated pies in American baking.
The pecan is the only major tree nut native to North America — and the Southern pecan pie is one of the most technically interesting desserts in American baking.
The pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is native to the Mississippi River valley and surrounding regions of central and southern North America. It was a critical food source for multiple Indigenous nations — the Caddo, Comanche, and other groups harvested wild pecans annually. The word "pecan" comes from the Algonquin word "pacane," meaning a nut that requires a stone to crack. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew pecan trees. Washington planted them at Mount Vernon (received from Jefferson), and Jefferson maintained a pecan grove at Monticello. Antoine, an enslaved man at Oak Alley Plantation in Louisiana, is credited with developing the first grafting technique for pecan trees in 1846 — creating the first improved pecan variety. He grafted 126 trees; 16 survived and became the basis of the modern commercial pecan industry. His contribution went unacknowledged for over a century. Pecans have the highest fat content of any nut (~72% fat by weight), which is why they go rancid...