James Pecan Farms, Inc. History In 1940, George and Elizabeth James married and began their life together in the pecan business. They started with 200 acres of land and approximately 200 pecan trees. At that time, pecans sold for three cents per pound in St. Louis. George James worked all his life to propagate and market new varieties of pecans and related nuts. At the time of his death in 1998, he had four patents, including one patent shared with his son, Bill. Elizabeth James has worked hard for 64 years to build a retail business and gift shop known as the Nut Hut. Elizabeth James and her children now own and operate the farm which has increased in acreage and has 10,000 pecan trees and is the most northern commercial pecan farm in the United States. Our pecans are small but have a uniquely sweet flavor and more oil, compared to the Southern paper shell pecan. Our pecan trees have been here for a very long time, growing naturally. The Lewis and Clark Journals mention ”pecauns”, so we know that mature trees were here as early as 1804. “Pecan” comes from a Native American word "Powcohicara" which was used was used to describe any nut so hard as to require a stone to crack them. Besides eating the kernels out of hand, the Indians also subjected pecans to a process of boiling the kernels and allowing them to ferment, which made an intoxicating drink. All of our pecans are organically grown. Our trees have never been sprayed. Our harvest starts in late October after a hard freeze. Pecans are harvested with a mechanical shaker and picking machines which have “chicken picking fingers.” Seven days a week of sanitizing, cracking, and selling our pecans keeps the family busy. We sell pecans cracked, shelled, and chocolate–covered, as well as in Grandma James’ Homemade Pralines. We also carry black walnuts, Pecan Honey Butter, sorghum, jams, jellies, and other candies in our gift shop. Our grafted trees may be ordered here before January 1st for spring delivery. We have the James Pecan, The Starking Hardy Giant Pecan, The James Early Pecan, and the James Hican, a cross between a pecan and a hickory nut. Please visit our George James Pecan Museum and see early machinery and historical displays and artifacts from over half a century in the pecan business. We have a video presentation of the process involved in the pecan industry. While here, you can take your picture in front of the World's Largest Pecan, a replica of the Starking Hardy Giant Pecan. The James Pecan Farms Nut Hut is open six days a week all year around, but seven days a week 9-5 in the fall. We are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.