A trip to one of our local suppliers
Sourcing sustainably grown and clean ingredients is a top priority for us, and when it's local, it feels personal. That's why we were thrilled to discover Lee's Pecan Farm in Wilcox, AZ.
Jackie and Paul Lee are the epitome of Arizona farmers. In their 80s, they've been tending the pecan orchard they planted over 40 years ago. Their home is even in the middle of it all. Last weekend, we set off on a four-hour drive with coolers to stock up on pecans for our Chai Spice Granola. It’s made with house-made chai spice (heavy on the ginger), Lee Farm-grown pecans, and organic blueberries—one of my favorites. Despite a brief delay due to a concerning grinding sound from our front right wheel (no smoke or smell, so we kept going), we made it to the farm.
After a 15-minute detour from the highway, we turned into a driveway nestled between rows of perfectly pruned pecan trees. A colorful hand-painted sign welcomed us as we parked. Jackie greeted us in the garage while Paul worked on the tractor, caring for the trees. We picked our pecans from the freezer, which Jackie says helps preserve their healthy oils. We agreed with her—Natural Grocers stores their nuts and seeds in cold storage too, so why don’t larger chains?
We ended up with 28 pounds of pecans. Jackie shared that a hailstorm had damaged the crop, leaving her with only small pieces of pecans this year. I assured her it would work fine for our granola. It reminded me how unpredictable nature can be, even for experienced farmers. A storm can impact yields, and it's a good lesson in patience when things aren’t available at the store.
During a previous visit to the Lee farm, I made a little furry feline friend named Sadie. During our conversation I was secretly looking for her to show Jennifer but she was nowhere to be found. I finally asked Jackie where the cat was, Jackie walked over to a table bent down and pulled the table cloth up and there was Sadie sleeping in her little bed! She gave a meow and slowly awoke and visited us. Before we left, Jackie asked me to text her once we got home safely. I promised I would.
The drive back always feels longer, but we had dinner at one of our favorite spots, Govinda’s Natural Food Buffet. We discovered it in 2015 while living in Denver and were so excited to learn there was one in Tucson. It’s a vegan restaurant connected to a Krishna temple with homestyle food and homemade dressings worth the trip alone.
Thankfully, the car issue didn’t return, and by 9 PM, I texted Jackie to let her know we made it back safely.
Anyone can visit Lee’s Pecan Farm. Jackie walks visitors through a slideshow in the garage, sharing their history and journey. There's also a hand-carved wooden sign that says "Till I can't," which perfectly sums up the Lee’s dedication to their work.
Jennifer and I are incredibly grateful to the Lee family and their crew for their hard work and commitment to producing nutrient-dense superfoods right here in Arizona. If you’re ever in the Tucson area, I highly recommend a visit to Lee's Pecan Farm.