Pecan Industry Aims to Better its Marketplace Status

Posted by Paul Rusnak|June 22, 2020

The specialty nut market is crowded with healthy competition. Almonds and pistachios each have power rank and robust promotion. Pecans want a piece of the pie, too. USDA has received a proposal from the National Pecan Federation (NPF) requesting the establishment of a research and promotion program to strengthen position in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets, as well as develop new uses for the nut.

The proposal is currently under review. If USDA finds the request justified, the department will publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule with a public comment period seeking input from the industry and interested stakeholders.

The proposal by the NPF calls for an initial assessment rate of two cents per pound of in-shell and four cents per pound of shelled domestic and imported pecans. Handlers would collect assessments from producers based on the pounds received and importers would pay assessments on pecans when they enter the U.S. for consumption.

Domestic producers and importers of less than 50,000 pounds of in-shell pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled pecans) on average for four fiscal periods would be exempt from paying assessments.

The proposed program would be established under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996 and would be financed by an assessment on domestic producers and importers of pecans and administered by a board of industry members nominated by the industry and selected by the Secretary of Agriculture.