On Tuesday, December 16th, San Saba Pecan, Inc. welcomed Sanjay Patnaik and Amy Chiu of Win Million Development LTD, of Hong Kong, to their San Saba facility. San Saba Pecan, Inc. has been the US & Mexico’s representative of the Win Million Development LTD. of Hong Kong for three years. Four representatives from San Saba Pecan, Inc. traveled this past May to Shaghai to attend the largest food show in China.

On Wednesday, December 17th Sanjay Patnaik and Amy Chiu were interviewed. Also in attendance during the interview were Buddy Adams, CEO of San Saba Pecan, Inc. and Pam Mann, Administrative Assistant. Although Patnaik has visited the US many times in different locations, this is the first time he has visited Central Texas. His company is looking at pecans in the Central Texas area for future shipments for three of the largest pecan factories in China. The products they seek need to be a good quality, full bodied nut, of consistent size and low count per pound.

Here in the US, the pecans are trucked or shipped by rail road in containers to ports in Mexico, California, Georgia and Texas; then shipped to Hong Kong. Pecan varieties currently being shipped are: Wichita, Western Schley, Desireables, Stuarts, Mahans, Sumner, Cape Fear and Pawnee.

Win Million Development LTD uses the pecans purchased in the US in an unusual and interesting way. The factories put a slight crack in the shells and the whole nut is placed in a brine solution (with confidential ingredients) for six to eight hours which gives the nut meat the flavor of the brine. After they are out of the brine the pecans are put in a dryer, then they are put in packages of various sizes such as snack size, 1#, 2#, 5#, and 10#. The packages are distributed to supermarkets, retail, large department stores and convenience stores.

Although pecan production is down in volumn since last year in this area, the pecans meet all the requirements for export. The three year partnership between San Saba Pecan and Win Million Development LTD has been successful and has had a 25 - 30% increase in sales per year.

San Saba Pecan, Inc. was honored that the respresentatives from Hong Kong visited Central Texas.