The
Comanche Indian Proverb: "We don't own the land, the land owns us"
forms a core value of the Yates Farms family businesses. Presently four
generations farm and ranch in San Saba County, Texas.
Our family purchased it's first pecan orchard in San Saba County over
40 years ago. From this modest beginning, orchard operations have
expanded to include pecan varieties that include Burkett, Western,
Improved San Saba, Desirable, Kiowa, Pawnee and a few others we're not
quite sure about. Nestled in the headwaters of creeks tributary to both
the San Saba and Colorado Rivers, the fertile sandy loam pecan bottoms
are sub-irrigated by clay layers that collect rain water falling on the
hillsides. We think it's the Texas Hill Country at its best.
Just like the latest varieties of pecans, we've seen many theories come
and go over the years about how to maximize yield with dense orchard
plantings and intense fertilization, herbicide and chemical utilization.
We've preferred to practice sustainable agriculture and let the land
teach us what it can produce and how it can provide for our needs. We
don't bulldoze out the older varieties, we adapt and use them where they
excel. Just like native pecans, many of these varieties have higher oil
and flavor content making them excellent for oils, snacking and bakery
uses. We also don't practice bare ground agriculture with intensive use
of herbicides and insecticides but live with some crop losses to
wildlife and make only sparing use of chemicals when there is a severe
problem. We enjoy working in the orchards ourselves and have found
pecans grow best in the shade of the owners' shadows.
In recent years, we've found others that appreciate the goodness of our
lifestyles and products. As a result, Yates Pecan Company provides
pecan oils, in shell pecans, shelled pecans and baked goods. We have
also come to recognize that many ingredients in today's processed foods
contain gluten or wheat and have adverse health implications for some
folks. Because our family members are gluten sensitive, we make and sell
gluten-free products. Please look over our offerings and give us a try.