Pecans anyone??

[BDraw]

My dad (87 years) has a pecan orchard (54 trees) and this year, due to the abundance of spring rain in North Texas (think flooding), he has more pecans than he knows what to do with. So as my family helps pick (by hand) his crop, I keep trying to figure out how to get his wonderfully, fresh, and delicious pecans to you -- my fellow rawfooders.

I know what poor quality of pecans is on the market (I've been in Montana for the past 10 years). Those offered, in my opinion, are rancid. Fresh pecans are light in color, not dark. The older they get, the darker they get. As a kid, we fed the older (darker) pecans to the chickens.

Anyway. . . the question is. . .how to get fresh pecans to you and are you interested? We are working on specifics, as in, whole, shelled, cracked, cleaned, etc. Interested?

Brenda (johndanks@att.net)

[oceanee]

wow - what a nice offer. I will email you directly.
Oceanee

[hibisanpo]

Yes!!!!!!!

[DavidZaneMason]

The easiest way for you to do it would just be to get a bunch of those flat-rate boxes from the post office. Fill them to the brim.....should be about 10 lbs....and charge what you think is a reasonable rate for them...to cover your time and effort. That would be a WONDERFUL gift to all concerned! Thank you and happy holidays!

-David Z. Mason

[JennaBoBenna]

Wow! How very generous! I don't need pecans, but you are so kind to want to share !!

[SmilingRawDancer]

I would be extremely interested! Let me know shipping costs et cetera, and I'll try and plan to be home more so I could get them...lol

[VeggieMel]

Yes, please let us know what you think a fair price would be. I'd be interested, too.

[catscharm74]

I would be interested. Please let us know!!

Cheers,
Heather

[BDraw]

Hi! Nice to see some interested. Today was another day picking pecans with family. My dad is very picky as to what he allows out of his orchard. . . meaning. . . if the pecan is not filled out according to his standards, they do not get past his compost pile and chickens. In fact today we flailed and picked pecans from 2 very large trees that were not 'good enough'. They must be picked up off the ground so his sheep and donkey won't eat them, as they too love pecans. He knows of a neighbor who's llama got into old pecans and ate lots only to be found dead the next day. Not fun at all.

Anyway, I am still working on pricing. Thanks for the insight about the flat-rate boxes David, that was the direction I had chosen. Now to find out how many will fit in a box. My plan is to have them cracked, partially clean them, so I'm not mailing all the trash, then box and mail. Though I thought I'd offer whole, uncracked too.

Someone ask (via e-mail) about the drying process and purity of the pecans. Here's the facts. They are not dried, except by the sun. They are mostly allowed to fall from the trees as they ripen (green pecans can make you sick).

Now the purity factor. Normally my dad sprays his pecans to prevent the little worms who can totally destroy every pecan on the orchard. And that process takes a total of twenty different sprayings during the growth stage. But this year, due to many factors, probably the biggest being my dad's health, he only managed the first spraying. So if I figure the math correctly, that would make these pecans 95% organic. The neat thing about the worms this year, it was so wet, they never managed to get out of the ground to do their damage. The crows weren't even a problem this year. And there have been no raccoons; he was telling me the year he caught 27. Don't you know he loved that!

So, I for one, am very pleased with his inconsistancy with the spraying.

Anyway, like I said, I'm still working on pricing. Hopefully I'll have it all figured out after Christmas.

Brenda

[lavendarJ]

Sounds great! I'll keep an eye out for your next post...

[Frugal Raw]

I would be VERY interested!!! I'm originally from Texas, and there is NOTHING like a homegrown Texas Pecan!

[Portia2012]

I would be interested once you figure out the pricing. I really need to get on this and stay on it. Working for McDonald's makes it so hard.


~Portia~

[BDraw]

I’ve got it all figured out. . . . for those interested in buying Texas pecans, here are the prices:

I’ve stuffed (really!) a “flat-rate” box, so shipping on all boxes will be $9.00.

Pecans (in the shell): Full box weighs 8 pounds @ 2.50/#. So, $2.50 x 8# = $20.00 (+shipping) = $29.00

Pecans (cracked): Full box weighs 7 pounds @ $3.00/#. So, $3.00 x 7# = $21.00 (+shipping) = $30.00

Pecans [cracked / bulk shells removed – this starts with 12 pounds of pecans, 4 pounds of shells are removed]: Full box weighs 8 pounds @ $5.00/#. So, $5.00 x 8# = $40.00 (+shipping) = $49.00

Shipping within 48 hours of receipt of payment. E-mail me for my address johndanks@att.net

Just so you know, one of the reasons I was so late in getting back with this is my lack of a good scales. These weights are not 100% accurate, in fact, you will receive more pecans than the weight mentioned. This will compensate for a few "not so great pecans" and my lack of a precise scale.

Hoping to hear form you! Brenda

[Morn]

Question - option 2 is cracked but with the shells still? Is this right. Just trying to figure out the difference between option 2 and 3.

[BDraw]

Yes, they are cracked with the shells still on, well, actually lots of the shells will have fallen off and be in the bottom of the box by the time you get them.

[subbacultcha]

I take it you're not shipping to the UK...:(
They sound delicious!

[BDraw]

I don't know -- What does it take to ship to the UK? I've never done that. Can I ship food stuffs without special licences, etc.? Do know about any of this?

I'll see what I can find out. Let me know what you can find out.

Would the shipping be ridiculous? Let's check it out.

[Bethanie]

Tell me how long will this offer stand:D .
I would love to have some of your pecans, the ones we have here are kind of dry.
Will they still be available next month?
B.

[BDraw]

Yes, I do think there will be plenty to last into next month (Feb. 2008).

We still have about 1/2 of them to pick up. And that is our plans this week-end, as the weather should be warm and sunny.

Wanna join us? ;)

[Anastazia]

Can you also look into shipping to Canada? I miss them from the 6 years I lived in Texas!!!
I'm sitting here making up recipes as I write!
~Anastazia~

[Bethanie]

We are here in cold Indiana but i am wondering if i could possibly get some next month mailed to us and if so how much would it be?
Let me know if this would be possible:) please.
Today is my birthday and this comes at a good time for me, i love pecans and have gotten to love the milk made from them, yummy, yummy.
Pecan Milk is the greatest for drinking and the leftovers make great cereal too.
B.

[SbutterAMfly]

Wow, I absolutely LOVE pecans.
Do you accept PayPal?

I've e-mailed you an inquiry :D
Thank you!

[subbacultcha]

I don't know -- What does it take to ship to the UK? I've never done that. Can I ship food stuffs without special licences, etc.? Do know about any of this?

I'll see what I can find out. Let me know what you can find out.

Would the shipping be ridiculous? Let's check it out.

Hmm... now you mention it I think there is some kind of license, or permit - I mean, whenever we fly to the US we have to give them any food we have in our hand luggage so I imagine they'd be strict with shipping foods too. The shipping costs would also probably be crazy! My boyfriend ordered me some shoes from the US and shipping was £30, as much as the shoes! No worries, anyway. Next time I go to the US I'm going to make it my mission to find a fresh pecan :)

[BDraw]

SbutterAMfly -- I did receive your e-mail, but immediately lost it, and I have no idea why. I'm so glad I found you here! Pay-pal?? No, sorry, but I haven't really gotten into that system (yet?). I am clue-less how it works and figured that now was not the time to learn. I do accept personal checks and money orders.

Bethanie -- yes, I will ship next month! Same price. Keep my e-mail address and let me know when. Thanks!

Anastazia -- Canada?? I'll talk to the post office and see what they say. I'll let you know!

Just a note -- for those of you not familar with the way pecans grow: They grow on trees, very tall trees. My husband climbs in the tree and attempts to shake them out or jump around like a monkey (a very careful monkey who is afraid of heights) to get the pecans to let go, or we get a 16 foot bamboo pole and knock them out (great workout for the shoulders), though most of the pecans have already fallen due to Mother Nature. The shell has to be hard enough to sustain the fall. The pecans are then gathered, by hand. Each one is picked up seperately, placed (tossed, thrown, etc.) in a bucket. Then my dad goes over each and every pecan to make sure no worm holes or "bad" pecans pass onto the next level. Next comes the cracking. Most of this is also done by hand (that is if my dad had his way). I have found a source that cracks the pecans with some kind of machine -- much quicker! The shells are cracked and lots of shell automatically falls off, but there is still plenty of fun left for you to partake in. Honestly it is not hard to shell, takes a little time, but for me at least, it is easy and relaxing, and even tasty, as I can not manage to shell without tasting. If you have never done this before, you need to know -- little pieces of shell (wood) can remain on the some of the pecans in the tight little creases or folds. If these are not removed and you pop the pecan in your mouth, you will soon discover you missed them. Wood is not tasty! If you want more hints concerning this, let me know. My biggest fear of sharing this information with you, is it will scare you away -- Really it is no big deal. . . My 6 year old does it!

Thanks for all your attention in taking the time to read this; let me know if I can send you some pecans. My e-mail address: johndanks@att.net The prices are listed 11 messages up. ;)

[eachpeachpearplum]

I bet we would all love to have a photo of your monkey in one those trees. . . PLEEEEZE?!

[BDraw]

eachpeachpearplum -- oh, thanks! I needed that laugh this morning. And my husband (i.e. monkey) was standing here and had to read this too as I was laughing out loud. I do want to get a picture of him in the tree, but somehow, I do not think you'd enjoy that as much as I do. Thanks for the humor! :D

[oceanee]

Hey everyone- I just got a nice big box of delicious pecans from these folks. They will last me a long long time and I am thrilled to give baggies away to those I know will love.
Just thought I'd pass on in case anyone was interested in getting some from the Dank family!
Oceanee

[Anastazia]

Any word on whether or not they can be shipped to Canada yet?

I can taste 'em already!!!

~Anastazia~

[BDraw]

Yes, I can ship to Canada, but shipping will cost you. . . $25.00 (vs. US $9.00)

Let me know when you are ready. E-mail me at: johndanks@att.net

Thanks! Brenda

[RawHeaven]

Brenda, I sent you an email. I'm interested in purchasing a box of pecans.

Thanks!!!!

Crystal

[SbutterAMfly]

I'm glad I saw this post again! It reminded me to send out the check.

Brenda, it's on its way! Thank you so much, I can't wait to taste them!

[BDraw]

It's me again -- the pecan picker in Texas. Guess what me and the kids did today?;)

We found even more pecans that need to find a home. . .

If you are still interested, please, please, please let me know! Time is short. What doesn't get taken here or put in my freezer, goes to the wholesaler. :(

My dad ask me today if anyone is still interested. So I ask -- are you?

If so, go back through this thread, check out prices, and let me know! (at johndanks@att.net)

I've e-mailed everyone who has already e-mailed me a reminder.

Waiting to hear from you! :)

[Anastazia]

I'm sooo interested, but just can't afford them currently...it's the $25 shipping that puts it over the top for my budget. Sorry. Wish I could do it.
~Anastazia~

[souldanzer]

I'm interested if they're still available. Sent you an email.

:) Souldanzer