Our team at Renfroe Pecan Company is busy getting ready for the new crop of Pecans and the holidays. We look forward to this time of year because we get new merchandise for the retail store and a fresh new crop of pecans and assortment of other nuts. The new catalog is at the printer and will be mailed soon. If you're not on our mailing list give us a call 800-874-1929 and we will be glad to add you. On our down time this summer we came up with a new product called Pensacola Beach Tar Balls. With the devastation of the oil spill we decided to make something good out of something bad. We have donated a percentage of the sales to the Wildlife Rescue. If you're local come in and try a sample they are delicious. When the weather cools off and we start shipping chocolate again we will put them on the web site.

For all you nut lovers here are some frequently asked questions and answers:

Why are nuts good for me?

Nuts like cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, and pistachios, can be a good source of: Protein, Fiber, Healthy monounsaturated fats, Vitamins, Nutrients, Antioxidants, Plus, many studies have shown that nuts have powerful cholesterol-lowering effects.

Can I still enjoy nuts if I am watching my weight?

Nuts, when enjoyed in moderation, do not appear to cause weight gain. In fact, many health care professionals and diet experts agree that treating yourself to a handful of nuts (or 1 1/2 ounces) is a great healthy snack that can help satisfy you and curb your appetite. Nuts contain no trans-fats and are typically low in saturated fats and high in good-for-you polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

What about if I am watching my cholesterol?

Most tree nuts contain no cholesterol, and are a great source of minerals and nutrients. In fact, tree nuts are full of a compound known as sterol, which has been shown to help reduce cholesterol.

Can adding nuts to my diet improve my heart health?

According to the Food and Drug Administration, eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

What are Tree nuts?

Tree nuts are just what they sound like - nuts that grown on trees! There are nine recognized types of tree nuts: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.

Are tree nuts a good source of protein?

Tree nuts are an excellent source of protein-they are even included in the USDA Food Guide Pyramid within the meat category! The nutrition in 1/3 cup of tree nuts is equivalent to 5 oz. of lean meat.

How can I add more nuts into my diet?

Nuts are nature's convenience food. Naturally bite sized and delicious, nuts are the perfect snack for an on the go lifestyle.

J.W. Renfroe Pecan Co.: de-shelled

Pecans are the only Native American nuts. The Indians harvested pecans during the fall months as an important part of their diet. Pecans grew wild in the river and creek bottoms around the Gulf Coast long before Europeans settled the area. Around the turn of the century, pecans became an important commercial item with pecan processing plants being built around the country.

In the mid 1930’s, J.W. Renfroe started buying pecans in Troy, AL. His pecan business grew to be one of the largest accumulators of pecans in the country. He shipped truckloads of in-shell pecans to processing plants in Chicago and St. Louis as well as to others in Georgia and Texas. J.W. Renfroe, Jr. grew up in the business...

Pensacola has always been a good growing area for pecans. Pecan trees were numerous in downtown and in the area around Brownsville and near Alcaniz Street to Ferry Pass. The surrounding counties of Baldwin, Mobile, Escambia County Alabama, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa area all good pecan-producing areas.

For years, the J.W. Renfroe Pecan Co. in Pensacola, Florida, existed solely as a wholesale pecan dealer. But when times got tough in the early ’70s, the company began looking for other revenue sources. In 1972, it opened a retail location to sell its premium pecans directly to consumers. And in 1976, the owners purchased a small catalog company and began offering their pecans and pecan-related products through the mail. ...More from Entrepreneur Magazine