The Sahuarita farm includes the largest irrigated pecan orchard in the world. 

“Due to our uncompromising commitment to quality, we are the largest pecan exporter to Europe and the largest supplier of organic pecans in the U.S.,” Walden said.

Pecan the best fit

Rich’s father - Dick Walden - says the family manages all aspects of pecan production. Dick’s father Keith Walden founded Farmers Investment Company (FICO) in the mid 1940’s and grew cotton.

He also lined the banks of the Santa Cruz River in Sahuarita with various types of nut trees, including 100-foot-long test rows of pecans, pistachios, walnuts, filberts, and almonds. The senior Walden also experimented with different types of fruit.

A decade later, he decided the best chance for success was pecans or wine grapes. Since grapes were more perishable and required hand labor to harvest, he opted to grow pecans – the hardier crop which could be mechanically harvested.

The first pecan trees – the Western Schley and Wichita varieties – were planted and still bear fruit with steady yields.

The Walden family owns FICO which owns GVPC.