FORT VALLEY, Ga. — A Fort Valley Pecan business is going nuts after learning the federal government is awarding it $250,000 from the Department of Agriculture.
Pecan Nation plans to use that money to turn their pecans into a snack you can find on shelves "to the snack world of America," Will McGlehee said.
That's the dream of Pecan Nation, McGlehee said.
Along with two co-owners, Duke Lane and Kent Hoots, the Central Georgia farmers call themselves "Pecan-noisseurs" who strive to achieve that goal, according to McGlehee.
"We walked around stores and we looked and we realized there was a void in Pecans," he said. "Pecan Nation has set out to be that brand that you go to when you think 'pecans.'"
The biggest challenge they face, McGlehee said, is the obstacles that come with a growing market.
A space on the shelves is where the competition is, according to Pecan Nation.
"We're kinda fighting for shelf space in the world right now," McGlehee explained. "If you walk into any convenience or grocery store, all the shelves are full. For us to make our way onto it, it takes a lot of time and effort of convincing the end customer that we are worthy of that space."
Pecan Nation said the hardest part of the job is cracking into the snack nut industry.
Currently, they have a variety of flavors and package sizes to choose from, including 1 oz. snack packs and full-size 16 oz. snack pouches.
The business said it is constantly trying to push its way in to earn that shelf space, but it's expensive.
About four months ago, McGlehee said, Pecan Nation submitted an application to receive a grant online.
"You can imagine the amount of paper, and cardboard, and effort that goes into wrapping one single ounce of pecans," McGlehee said.
A $250K grant from the United State Department of Agriculture might help with that though.
"It took us about 120 days to find out if we were selected," he said.
Through the Value Added Producer Grant, Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are delivering grants to farmers throughout Georgia to help them generate new products, create and expand marketing and boost income, according to a press release.
In addition to Pecan Nation, five other farms and a vineyard in Georgia will also receive grants, including pecan, cattle, poultry, and beef producers.
They are:
- Mill Creek Farms in Statesboro,
- White Oak Pastures in Bluffton,
- Muscadine Products Corporation in Wray,
- Crane Creek Vineyards in Young Harris,
- and Blue Jay Cattle in Hoboken.
The rewards range from $192,500 to $250,000.
"What it's allowing us to do is to push this product out into the market a little faster than we were already doing it because of budget constraints," McGlehee said.
The money does not arrive in one lump sum, McGlehee clarified.
For the next 24 months, Pecan Nation said they will send its invoices to the USDA. As they spend the money to process and package the snack-sized pouches, Pecan Nation will be reimbursed $250,000 as it spends $500,000 over two years.
Pecan Nation hopes they pe-can do it!
"It's literally and figuratively a grind everyday!" McGlehee exclaimed.