Oklahoma Pecan Harvest Makes a Comeback

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- After a less than satisfactory pecan harvest last year, farmers are looking forward to a more bountiful season this year.

Diane Couch and her family pecan orchard have been around for generations and this season their crops are full of life after a struggle with Mother Nature.

"This year is looking better than last year. Of course, we're recovering from the ice storm from a couple years ago so it's coming back pretty good. I'm pleased with that," Couch said.

The state's agriculture department estimated the pecan production will top 20 million pounds this year, which is four times the amount compared to last year. Pecan farmers said the wet weather in recent months has helped this year's crop.

"Last year the freeze just came in and just before harvest and just took out and froze up the trees and pecans. This year we didn't have the rain and there's not been very many bugs and stuff out and it had tripled from what it was last year," said Wilbert Wallace, a produce business owner.

At the corner of Kelley Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, Wallace and his wife set up shop and sell plenty of produce and pecans.

"I want everybody to come out and enjoy the pecans and fresh fruits because you'll see more this year than last year," Wallace said.

The big day for pecan producers is November 14 or 15 because that's when they're hoping for the first freeze to help their harvest.