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

Kate Sutley/Gulf Breeze News Along with an array of pecan gifts, J.W. Renfroe also offers other holiday gifts perfect for any member of the family.

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.

In the Fall of 1956, John W. (Jake) Renfroe, Jr. started buying pecans in Pensacola with assistance from his Father’s successful business. This buying warehouse was a wholesale only location, serving as a branch of J.W. Renfroe Pecan Co. from Troy, AL. J.W. Renfroe, Sr. passed away in 1972 and J.W., Jr. took over the business. During the early years, there was a sign above the office door “SORRY NO RETAIL SALES.”

This concept is now long gone, and thanks to other family members joining the fun, Renfroe now has a modern pecan shelling plant in Pensacola and a successful mail order business along with a thriving retail outlet.

Renfroe had a very good customer is Crestview, FL with a mail order business and a small pecan shelling plant, Paul Brett. In 1976, Mr. Brett decided to retire and offered to sell his business. Jake’s wife Lil volunteered to take over his business and run the plant.

A deal was made with him and the company was instantly in the retail and mail order business. The plant was moved to Pensacola in 1979. Lil continued to run it until she semiretired in 2003. She is now a consultant for the company. Jake Renfroe, III is now plant manager.

Daughter Dee Renfroe runs the mail order department and the retail store. Jake, Jr. is still in the wholesale business.

J.W. Renfroe Pecan Co. is still one of the largest accumulators of in-shell pecans with ten warehouses and associate dealers in the South. However, thanks to the hard work of Lil, Jake, III and Dee, Renfroe’s is well-known for wonderful, premium quality shelled pecans and a delightful gift shop.