DELORES HURST, Reveille Radio News Reporter:
With the changing of the weather and the falling of leaves, comes a new way for students to make a little extra cash this fall because it’s pecan season. Picking pecans has become very common among southerners and places like HJ Bergeron Pecan Shelling Company is always looking to buy.
A lot of places like Farmers Feed Mill and Bergeron’s in the New Roads area buy pecans at a dollar a pound. LSU student Christy Murphy is pretty excited about this news.
CHRISTY MURPHY (University student): That sounds like a pretty good price to me. I wouldn’t mind going to pick a few to sale.
HURST: Murphy is also a little skeptical.
MURPHY: Where would I get the pecans around LSU? Most of the area is apartments; I haven’t noticed many pecan trees.
HURST: There has been spotting of pecan picking on Brightside and at some apartment complexes, but Murphy stated she is used to picking in fields
MURPHY: Well I picked pecans where I grew up and the trees were easy to find.
HURST: A feed mill that is closer to the students is Plantation Feed and Seed in Port Allen. They buy pecans at 50 cents a pound. At Farmers Feed Mill, owner Jeff Smith says they get many students, both college and high school coming in, but most of the time it’s adult pickers.
HURST: Murphy explained her experiences with picking.
MURPHY: I picked when I was younger and it was something to do because my siblings were doing it. I remember being on my knees for a long time. As far as selling, well that was the exciting part 15 dollars was a lot to a child.
HURST: Expert pickers say they can usually pick a sack by themselves, but beginners can barely make it through a 5 gallon bucket, which can give them about 60 dollars. They explained that it is a good deal for college students because it takes less time and put a little extra cash in their pocket.
I’m Delores Hurst with your Reveille Radio news.