The Adams Family: Alabama's Premier Pecan Growers

INTRODUCTION

 

On August 28, 1941, George H. and Elma E. Adams made a life-changing purchase, acquiring a home and property on Peachburg Road, Chunnenugge Ridge, from Mrs. Alice M. Frazer. The property came with a precious gift, 2,000 pecan trees that had been quietly growing for 25-30 years, waiting for the right family to nurture them. George and Elma raised four children on this land: Joe, Tom, John, and Elaine, all of whom remain within five miles of the original homeplace today.

It was young John who caught the pecan farming vision, dreaming as a boy of building a successful pecan business. His entrepreneurial spirit showed early when he asked his mother to write an inquiry letter about a rare pecan cracker, understanding even then that cracked pecans would be easier to market. Those early days were filled with hard work and community, approximately 100 laborers would hand-pick pecans into "croaker sacks," while John and his siblings loaded wagons and flatbed trucks equipped with scales, paying the modest wage of 2 cents per pound.

When George passed in 1978, John inherited most of the pecan orchards and poured his heart into perfecting his craft through bushhogging, spraying, fertilizing, pruning, and "a lot of praying." His dedication paid off in 1991 when he purchased the pecan accumulator business in Union Springs from H.T. Renfroe, transforming the operation into today's thriving enterprise. Now, John's children and in-laws continue the family tradition, processing over 3 million pounds of pecans and building invaluable friendships with customers nationwide. Though the work remains challenging, serving the public has become their greatest joy.