We have plenty of nuts in New Mexico, but then you guys probably already knew that.  For those of you who do not know:

1. Pecans….The state of New Mexico looks like it will be no. 1 in pecan production this year…In the past, Georgia has been no. 1 but it looks like we might surpass them this year if what I read is correct. In the southern part of our state you find many large pecan orchards…I think Las Cruces may be the biggest producer. The 2009 crop was valued at 120 million dollars per AAA/New Mexico. Jan/Feb 2011 issue…

2. Peanuts….Portales has the soil and climate conducive to good peanut production. There is at least one peanut butter plant there and maybe a couple of candy plants close by. Anyway, we buy peanut butter and peanut patties every time we go to Portales. I think we are second to Georgia in peanut production, but we produce a bunch (no pun intended).  AAA of New Mexico in its Jan/Feb issue reports that it takes 540 peanuts to make a 12 ounce jar of peanut butter. Who’s counting?

3. Pistachios….Between Alamogordo and Tularosa there are two huge pistachio farms that are doing quite well. This is the newest nut to New Mexico, native to Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, it has adapted well to our hot, dry climate, cold winters and low humidity. They say Pistachios are not a true nut, but a fruit seed. The fruit is a bitter red and yellow fruit that is discarded and used as mulch for the orchard.  On Highway 54, between Alamogordo and Tularosa, you can sample the ice cream, candy, cookies and wine made from the Pistachios…

4. Pinon….from New Mexico’s state tree cones…They mature every four to seven years, officially nuts from the Pinus edulis pine species are the only nuts that can be called New Mexico pinon nuts. This nut was a food staple for the Southwest American Indians for centuries. Today, Navajo gatherers and vendors sell these nuts along side the roadways of New Mexico. Some local folks gather their own. If you are interested in buying some you may want to contact, David Cuneo, owner of New Mexico Pinon Nut Company at their website,  pinonnuts.com,  for price and availability. He states in the AAA issue of Jan/Feb, 2011 that the pinon nut was the most expensive nut in the world. At the time he made that statement the going rate was 26.00 per pound.

5. Pete….Human nut who loves to eat the above nuts….and more than his share….

So, there you have five of the nuts that you can find in New Mexico……