The 2018 pecan harvest is going on. That means it’s time to stock up for holiday parties and gift giving. We checked in with our pecan growers and they didn’t suffer from Hurricane Michael like many others. Out of 92 acres of pecan orchards at Koinonia Farm, they only lost two trees. At Schermer, they’ve been busy cleaning up the orchards and were able to resume harvesting.
Roasted and Salted Pecans from Schermer Pecans
We were introduced to Schermer Pecans by the nice folks at Sweet Grass Dairy’s Cheese Shop in Thomasville. We purchased a package of roasted and salted pecans but it didn’t last long. Yes, we could roast and salt our own pecans, but they’re never as evenly cooked as these and we’re not always consistent in the way we salt ours. These were crisp, just barely salted and tasted so fresh. That package is long gone. But now we’ve been introduced to their Cinnamon Glazed and Dark Chocolate Pecans. Again, we’re impressed with how these folks prepare their pecans. Nothing too sweet, nothing over-the-top, just so delicious that you’ll keep putting your hand into that bowl until every last pecan is gone. And yes, they sell fresh pecans, too, in medium and large sizes.
$41 for a gift box of two 1-ounce bags of Roasted & Salted or Cinnamon Glazed. Available at https://schermerpecans.com/.
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Dark Chocolate Pecan Bark from Koinonia Farm
Koinonia Farm in Americus was founded in 1942 as a Christian community committed to economic sharing, pacifism and racial equality. Perhaps you’re not familiar with Koinonia Farm, but maybe you’ve heard of Habitat for Humanity International? That’s a program that grew out of the farm’s housing ministry. Or you’ve enjoyed a performance of the Cotton Patch Gospel based on the writings of Koinonia Farm founder Clarence Jordan. Jordan wrote his stories in a writing shack in the farm’s pecan orchard. Now you can enjoy pecans from that orchard by ordering packages of their cinnamon-spiced, hickory smoked or raw pecan halves. They also offer pecan butter and pecan pieces as well as a sampler tin with their three signature pecan products. We tried the fair trade Dark Chocolate Pecan Bark. With its 70 percent cocoa content, it’s rich and luscious and our new favorite.
$6.95 per 4-ounce package. Available at https://koinoniafarmstore.com/ and on the farm at the Koinonia Welcome Center. Lunch and farm tours by appointment are available as well. Koinonia Farm, 1324 Highway 49 South, Americus.
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Blackjack Pecans from Grown Wild
Kathy and Darren Senft of Grown Wild Foods in Rex are masters at combining fruit with beer or wine in their line of jellies and spreads, and now they’ve turned their attention to pecans. Specifically pecans flavored with sour mash, butter, Tabasco, sugar and salt. The result is a sweet/savory/addictive. The sour mash gives the pecans a richness that’s matched by that butter and then you get a little hit of Tasbaco at the end. Yes, addictive. Check out their Facebook page where everyone who’s bought some is trying to get more. We’re big fans of their jellies and spreads, now we have one more reason to eat Grown Wild.
$8 for a 5.5-ounce package, $20 for a 1-pound bag. Available at the Freedom Farmers Market or online at https://www.grownwildfoods.com/.
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