Orchard Operation is a Multigenerational Family Business
There is a small pecan orchard in fourth-generation farmer Billy Jeter's childhood backyard planted by his uncle that reminds him today of his family's farming legacy.
Though the Jeter farming family were historically cotton and rice farmers in the Delta region of Arkansas, pecans have been part of family life for generations.
"When I go out and see those trees," Jeter said, "I can think of my long-gone uncle who took the time to plant those pecan trees there. And down the road, it's a legacy that passes on long after you're gone if you take care of them, and we take care of them."
Shady Grove Pecan Orchards, based in Scott, is a family-owned farm with five orchards covering 70 acres.
The farm is owned by fourth-generation farmer Billy Jeter, his wife, Susan, his daughter, Anna Jeter Lester, and her husband, Pat Lester.
"The generations before us were cotton and rice farmers, but we've had pecans on the family farm all of our lives," Jeter said.
"I can remember coming in and watching Anna crack pecans at home. During harvest, they fell in our yard or somewhere on the farm."
The family aims to eventually harvest a yield of approximately 1,000 pounds per acre, Jeter said, adding three of their five orchards are currently too young to produce many pecans but should start producing a higher yield next year.
"We'll get that production in five years," Jeter said.
The family is based in Central Arkansas and also owns a wealth management business geared toward retirement planning called Peregrine Wealth Strategies.
"Our business is pretty stressful, so we needed something to divert us," Jeter said.
A forgiving harvest schedule allows them to work on weekends and after workday hours.
"I'm a former [agriculture] business major, so it also provided an opportunity to give back into the agriculture business and start growing our own stuff," Anna Lester said.
"Right now, it seems like it's really important where your food comes from, so we know people, especially throughout the holidays, pecans have always been kind of a generational thing and the generations now are going to be able sit there and crack pecans and know that they came from 20 miles away from here."
The standard holiday dessert pecan pie at Thanksgiving is not the only way Anna Jeter Lester and her family enjoy pecans at home.
"We put them in our yogurt every morning, we make different appetizers with them, we crust meats with them ... we make trail mix," Anna Lester said, adding she also grew up enjoying a Southern pecan candy called divinity growing up, but hasn't yet made it for her own family.
"You grow pecans, you end up using them a lot."
The family-owned farm business grows pecans exclusively and that is on purpose, Jeter said, adding Shady Grove pecans are also a good snack to eat in its purest form.
"You can eat them right out of the bag," Jeter said.
"They become very seasonal for retail customers this time of year, which actually hits just right for the best tasting product because they're freshly harvested."
The farming family just recently finished the harvest, which is always a family affair.
The Jeter family gathers in Arkansas on the first weekend of November each year for the first day of the fall harvest.
Though Jeter and his wife handle most of the farm labor, the extended family lends a hand at harvest, enjoys barbecue and connects with each other.
"The whole thing is built for our two grandkids," Jeter said.
"We all have a wonderful harvest day."
Jeter said the Jeter family has several birdwatchers, so Shady Grove donates pecan byproducts to the Audubon Society.
Pecan varieties grown at Shady Grove include Avalon, Oconee, Kanza, Lakota, Pawnee varieties, all of which are bred mostly in Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia.
The farm has sold pecans to customers across the country, from Dallas to Montana and Maryland, Jeter said.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers produced 275 million pounds of pecans last year, up 8% from 2021, harvesting 407,000 acres, down 1% from 2021. The average yield was 674 pounds per acre, up 51 pounds from 2021. Last year's crop value was estimated at $493 million, down 11% from the previous season. Pecan farmers last year got an average price of $1.79 per pound.
Customers can find Shady Grove pecans locally at stores like The Green Corner Store and Stratton's Market, Wines and Spirits in downtown Little Rock, Blackberry Market cafe and bakery in the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock, and HAM Market in the Hillcrest neighborhood. Eateries like Brave New Restaurant and Ciao Baci in Little Rock also feature Shady Grove pecans.
Pecans can also be found at Natural State Market in Benton and farmers markets in Bella Vista and Rogers.
Customers can also buy whole pecans or pecan halves online, in one- to 10-pound bags, on the farm's website at shadygrovepecans.com.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette December 2023
Story: Cristina LaRue