‘Welcome to the Nut House’

‘Welcome to the Nut House’

Times Outdoors Columnist Almost all outdoor people love the autumn with its colorful trees, hunting seasons, and the good food that is traditional in the South. First we have Thanksgiving and then Christmas where the family gathers around the dinner table loaded down with delicious food. One of the most popular foods is pecan pie with its sweet middle with pecans on top. We first have to get the pecans. While driving around there are several pecan orchards where pecans may be picked up or bought already gathered up. Now that we have the nuts, they must be cracked. This can be a project with a nut cracker, or they can be taken to professional nut cracker that charges to do it.

Bill Clarke of Horseshoe Lake is one of the oldest pecan crackers in the area, having been in business for 8 years. The number he cracks each year depends on the availability of the nuts. Pecan trees have bountiful years and years of very poor yields. Bill has 3 nut cracking machines that can do several hundred pounds per day. When he finishes, the nuts are about 90% shelled and cleaned. There is still a little pick out work before they are bagged or used.

Clarke will shell your pecans or you can purchase pecans from his orchard. You may pick up under his trees or buy pecans that have already been gathered. He sells them for what ever the current market price is in West Memphis.

Bill Clarke lives on Horseshoe Lake and you may call him at (870) 3392410, to set up a time to visit. Its fun just to see the cracking operation and enjoy his stories. There is a large sign on the shop door that says ”Welcome To The Nut House,” and Bill truly means that. It will not be a wasted trip!

By John Criner