Texas

Texas is the nation's leading producer of native pecans, with pecan trees growing wild along rivers and streams across the state for thousands of years. Native Americans harvested pecans long before European settlement, and the word "pecan" comes from the Algonquin word "pacane," meaning a nut requiring a stone to crack.

The pecan pie as we know it emerged in the late 1800s, with recipes appearing in Texas cookbooks by the early 1900s. Karo corn syrup heavily promoted the recipe starting in the 1930s, helping cement its place as a Southern staple. But in Texas, pecan pie isn't just a dessert—it's a point of pride, with families guarding their recipes across generations.

Today, Texas produces about 50-75 million pounds of pecans annually, and the pecan is the official state nut. When Texans say "everything's bigger," they mean their pecan pies too.