Texas Pecan Growers Association

What Texas Pecan Growers Association does

Texas Pecan Growers Association (TPGA) is a private, non-profit trade association founded in 1921 and headquartered in Bryan, Texas, that supports Texas pecan growers through education, research, promotion, and advocacy. Its mission, as stated on its website, is to assist Texas pecan growers in growing pecans profitably. The organization serves hundreds of member farms across Texas, with 38+ counties represented in its Where to Buy Pecans directory, and maintains 100+ commercial members spanning equipment, agrichemicals, processing technology, and specialty products. Core products include the monthly Pecan South magazine (positioned as the American pecan industry's leading national trade publication), the annual Pieces of Pecan consumer magazine, the 105-year-old annual conference and trade show, the Texas Pecan Show competition dating to the 1950s, a tiered Texas Pecan Promotion Package line ($55-$700), and the Native Nut Book Nook bookstore.

TPGA operates on a membership-based revenue model: Grower/Industry, Vendor, and Out-of-State memberships are priced at a flat $200 per year, while Research/Extension personnel receive free membership. Secondary revenue streams include conference registration fees (free for members through July 10, 2026; $180-$200 for non-members), bookstore and branded merchandise sales ($9-$62 books, $25 hats), grants and fundraising including silent auction proceeds supporting Texas Pecan Extension and Research, and joint grant programs with the Texas Pecan Board offering up to $25,000 for pecan industry research. Distribution is delivered through a WordPress-based website with e-commerce capabilities, social media channels (Facebook, X, Instagram), email newsletters (Texas Pecan Newsletter weekly during harvest), and physical channels including the annual conference.

The organization's strategic positioning is reinforced through partnerships with the Texas Pecan Board (joint grant program), Texas Department of Agriculture (GO TEXAN program), American Pecan Council, American Pecan Promotion Board, National Pecan Federation (founding member, manages PECAN PAC), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (sponsors Texas Pecan Short Course), USDA-ARS Pecan Program, and USDA Farm Service Agency. TPGA also holds membership in the Texas Agriculture Council and maintains reciprocal relations with the Western Pecan Growers Association and National Pecan Shellers Association. Staff consists of four full-time personnel (Executive Director Blair Krebs, Membership Director Nichole Hejl, Office Manager Kelsey Wallis, and Pecan South Managing Editor Sarah Dieringer) supported by a 10-member Board of Directors representing Texas districts.

Name

Texas Pecan Growers Association

Legal name

Texas Pecan Growers Association

Website

https://tpga.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Texas Pecan Growers Association is a 1921-founded non-profit trade association that supports Texas pecan growers through education, research, promotion, and advocacy, serving hundreds of member farms via the Pecan South magazine, an annual conference, and the Texas Pecan Show competition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trade Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD)

Keywords

• Pecan trade association
• Agricultural industry membership
• Pecan grower education
• Agricultural research grants
• Pecan industry publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Bryan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from pecan growers, industry members, vendors, and out-of-state members. Research/Extension category receives free membership.
2. Bookstore Sales: Sale of promotional materials, educational books, cookbooks, and branded merchandise including Texas Pecan Promotion Packages at various price tiers ($55-$700), pecan-related books ($9-$62), and gifts ($25).
3. Conference Registration: Registration fees for annual Texas Pecan Growers Conference and Trade Show, including educational programs, trade show access, orchard tours, and special events like family nights and casino nights.
4. Grants and Fundraising: Grant funding for pecan research and extension projects, including joint grants with Texas Pecan Board. Silent auction proceeds support Texas Pecan Extension and Research.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Texas Pecan Growers Association (TPGA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1921 that serves pecan growers and industry members through four core pillars: education (annual conference, seminars, CEUs), research (joint grant funding with Texas Pecan Board for pest, water, soil, and variety projects), promotion (Pecan South magazine, Pieces of Pecan consumer magazine, GO TEXAN partnerships), and advocacy (state and federal lobbying through National Pecan Federation). Membership dues ($200/year), conference registrations, bookstore sales of promotional packages and educational books, and grant funding sustain operations.

Product overview

Texas Pecan Growers Association operates as a membership-based industry association offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on supporting and promoting the Texas pecan industry. The core offerings include Pecan South Magazine (monthly trade publication) and Pieces of Pecan (annual consumer magazine), which provide industry news, research updates, and consumer-facing content. The TPGA Annual Conference & Trade Show serves as the flagship annual event combining education, networking, and trade show elements. Supporting offerings include the Texas Pecan Show competition, a promotional materials package with tiered pricing, the Native Nut Book Nook bookstore, a Where to Buy Pecans directory, membership program with associated benefits, and a Commercial Members program. The portfolio functions as a unified ecosystem supporting pecan growers through education, promotion, research funding, and market access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pecan South: Monthly magazine published by TPGA, serving as the American pecan industry's leading national publication for growers, processors, commercial vendors, and pecan enthusiasts.
• TPGA Conference & Trade Show
• Pieces of Pecan

Products and services

• Pecan South Magazine Monthly national trade publication serving as the American pecan industry's leading magazine, providing perspectives on pecan production, industry news, market-related issues, and international developments for growers, processors, and commercial vendors.
• TPGA Annual Conference & Trade Show Annual flagship multi-day event (105th edition scheduled July 12-15, 2026 in San Marcos, TX) featuring educational seminars, trade show with 100+ exhibitors, orchard tours, Pecan Pairing Program, grower awards, Texas Pecan Show competition, family events, and networking for the pecan industry.
• TPGA Membership Program Annual membership ($200/year) for pecan growers, industry members, vendors, and out-of-state members (Research/Extension receive free membership). Benefits include Pecan South magazine subscription, discounted conference registration, educational resources, advocacy representation, and member directory listing.
• Texas Pecan Show State-level pecan competition dating to the 1950s, organized by Texas A&M AgriLife and sponsored by TPGA, showcasing top pecans grown in Texas with county, regional, and state-level judging; serves as qualifying competition for National Pecan Shellers Association recognition.
• Texas Pecan Research & Extension Grant Program Joint grant program by TPGA and Texas Pecan Board funding research and extension projects to advance the Texas pecan industry, including the silent auction-supported $25,000 grant for industry advancement projects.
• Commercial Members Program Recognition and promotion program for commercial members supporting the pecan industry, showcasing over 100 companies providing equipment, services, and products to growers (e.g., WECO, Savage Equipment, Kinloch Plantation Products, Certis USA).

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ year organization serving Texas pecan industry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Texas Pecan BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState check-off program for Texas pecan industry. Joint partners in Texas Pecan Research & Extension Grant program. TPGA and TPB co-sponsor Texas Pecan Show and collaborate on grants benefiting Texas pecan producers.
• Texas Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency handling agriculture promotion and regulation. TPGA works with TDA on international and domestic pecan promotion projects through GO TEXAN program. TDA sponsored BBQ lunch at 2026 conference.
• American Pecan CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Marketing Order for pecans dedicated to showcasing pecan benefits and history. APC is exhibitor and sponsor at TPGA annual conference.
• American Pecan Promotion BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and Promotion program for pecans with assessments used for promotion, research, and industry information projects. APPB is exhibitor and sponsor at TPGA annual conference.
• National Pecan FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization for pecan industry in Washington D.C. TPGA is a founding member and contributor. NPF manages PECAN PAC for political advocacy with $5,000/year contribution limit.
• Texas Agriculture CouncilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of agricultural member organizations advocating for Texas agricultural industries. TPGA is a member organization representing pecan interests.
• Texas A&M AgriLife ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides training, publications, apps, and programs for agriculture research. TPGA sponsors Texas Pecan Short Course and collaborates on Texas Pecan Show. AgriLife specialists present at annual conference.
• USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Pecan ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research program for pecan breeding, genetics, cultivar development, pathology, and entomology. TPGA supports and obtains additional funding for USDA-ARS. Warren Chatwin from USDA-ARS presents at TPGA conference.
• USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandles crop insurance, disaster assistance, and programs for pecan producers. FSA representatives available for one-on-one sessions at TPGA annual conference.
• National Pecan Shellers AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents pecan shelling and processing industry. Texas Pecan Show serves as qualifying competition for national recognition through NPSA.
• Western Pecan Growers AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association supporting advocacy and educational efforts. Represents California, Arizona, New Mexico, and five westernmost counties of Texas.
• GO TEXANcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTexas Department of Agriculture initiative identifying and supporting Texas-based businesses. TPGA members promoted through GO TEXAN program for consumer visibility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mississippi Pecan Growers Association: State-level pecan grower association operating in a similar capacity to TPGA for Mississippi pecan growers. Comparable in size and mission as a state trade association for pecan farmers.
• National Pecan Shellers Association: Trade association representing the pecan shelling and processing industry. Directly comparable to TPGA as a pecan industry trade association, though focused on the processing segment rather than growers. The Texas Pecan Show serves as a qualifying competition for national NPSA recognition.
• Georgia Pecan Growers Association: State-level pecan grower trade association serving the largest U.S. pecan-producing state. Directly comparable to TPGA in mission and structure, both serving pecan growers in their respective states with education, research, and advocacy.
• American Pecan Council: Federal Marketing Order for pecans dedicated to showcasing pecan benefits and history. Comparable to TPGA as a pecan industry coordination body with marketing and promotion functions, though operating at the federal rather than state level.
• American Pecan Promotion Board: Federal research and promotion program for pecans using assessments for industry research and promotion projects. Directly comparable to TPGA in industry research funding role, with the two organizations partnering on conferences and grants.
• Western Pecan Growers Association: Regional pecan trade association representing California, Arizona, New Mexico, and the five westernmost counties of Texas. Directly comparable to TPGA as a nonprofit regional trade association supporting pecan growers, though serving a different geographic territory.
• National Pecan Federation: Federal-level advocacy organization for the U.S. pecan industry, of which TPGA is a founding member and contributor. National Pecan Federation manages PECAN PAC for political advocacy, making it a directly comparable nonprofit trade advocacy body for pecans.

Broad incumbents

• Almond Board of California: Federal marketing order for California almonds managing research, promotion, and industry information. Comparable to TPGA as a tree nut industry coordination body, though substantially larger in scale, budget, and global footprint.
• American Peanut Council: Trade association representing the U.S. peanut industry including growers, shellers, and manufacturers. Comparable to TPGA as a nut industry trade association with marketing, research, and advocacy functions, though serving a different nut commodity with broader scope.
• California Walnut Board: Federal marketing order and state commission for the California walnut industry. Comparable to TPGA in serving a tree nut grower industry with marketing, research, and promotion functions, though operating at significantly larger scale across a single dominant producing state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TXPecanGrowers
• Facebookfacebook.com/TexasPecanGrowers
• Instagraminstagram.com/texaspecangrowers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-pecan-growers-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Texas Pecan Growers Association