It’s the time of year when southern pecans find their way into our store. This year, in addition to our regular supply of bagged pecans from Indian Springs Farm, we have bulk nuts, both shelled and unshelled, from New Communities, an organization whose mission is to become a thriving organization that is a global model for community empowerment.
New Communities Pecans
From the New Communities website:
“New Communities is a grassroots organization that has worked for more than 40 years to empower African American families in Southwest Georgia and advocate for social justice.
“Born out of the Civil Rights Movement in 1969, New Communities, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(4) based in Albany, Georgia. Founded as a collective farm, New Communities is widely recognized as the original model for community land trusts in the US. Today, the founding members, including Charles and Shirley Sherrod, are dedicated to empowering the community through agribusiness and economic development.
“New Communities brings a mature vision, grounded on decades of experience, adversity, and commitment to this historic opportunity. The vision of New Communities is to become a thriving organization that is a global model for community empowerment through agribusiness, education, social awareness, and wealth building.”
We’re excited to have these pecans in our stores, brought to us by Eastern Carolina Organics. Read more and watch videos online: http://www.newcommunitiesinc.com/
Indian Springs Pecans
We still have one-pound bags of shelled pecans from Indian Springs Pecans in Wayne County. Owner Tim Haithcock began planting his trees back in 1996. He and his wife, Karen, had bought a worn out commodity farm, which they revived with cover crops, returning nutrients to the soil. Then they began planting trees, which take many years before producing nuts. They’ve expanded each year and now have over 500 trees. They grow several types of pecan, to extend the harvest season and reduce disease, but most people cannot distinguish between the different types.
Nuts from Indian Springs come straight from the farm, and since each year’s crop sells out, you know that the nuts in our stores are fresh. Tim uses pesticides and fertilizers sparingly, instead maintaining the health of his orchard by spending time in it, focusing on soil health, proper pruning (to aid sunlight and air flow), adequate watering during dry times, mulching, and other practices.
Visit Indian Springs online: http://www.indianspringspecans.com/
Healthy Pecans
Pecans are high in antioxidants–more than any tree nut, according to one study, and in the top 15 of all foods according to the USDA. They also have oleic acid and other monounsatruated fats, dietary fiber, protein, and over 19 vitamins and minerals, with few carbohydrates and no cholesterol.
Health benefits include heart health, improved digestion, reduced risk of some cancers, and more. Baking with them makes for healthier desserts. (Read more here and scroll down for recipes.)
Remember to store pecans in your fridge or freezer! You can read more about pecans in North Carolina, here.