Hidden Gems: Meet Joe Brown of Pleasant Hill Pecans

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Brown.

Hi Joe, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My family businesses have had to shift and adapt with the times. We have two 500-foot-tall communication towers on 30 acres of land just southeast of Rocky Mount. In the past, we rented the land not directly used for the towers to a farmer. I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about how the demand for pecans was increasing in Asia, so I did some research to consider starting a pecan orchard. I joined the NC Pecan Growers Association, had an irrigation system installed, and planted the first phase of trees in the winter of 2014. The following years, we planted more trees until we reached our current capacity of 860 trees. We have a store/office near downtown Rocky Mount where we work and sell pecans directly to customers who can also order online from our website with shipping available across the US. Additionally, we have a number of retail partners in North Carolina and Virginia that recognize the value of offering top-quality pecans. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Previously, we were not involved in agriculture at all, so there have been plenty of learning experiences, from operating utility tractors and the implements that attach to them to learning about the specifics of managing a pecan orchard, which involves planting the trees, pruning them, fertilizing, etc. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are Pleasant Hill Pecans. We have a 30-acre orchard, and we sell halves, chopped, and in-shell pecans. The high quality of pecans sets us apart from our competitors. Our pecans are far superior in quality to the old, dried ones you might find at your typical grocery store. Being a family-owned and operated small business is what we’re most proud of with regard to our brand. My sons, Joseph and Sam, started working in the business after graduating from college in 2014 and 2019, respectively. Both having a mixture of office and physical work keeps things interesting for them. They both stay hot and dirty out at the orchard during the summer. Managing our online store and social media and performing general maintenance on the orchard machinery are a few of Sam’s responsibilities. Joseph’s focus include managing the pecan trees’ various needs in order to be healthy and productive and running the cracking and shelling machines. My wife, Julia, is a great sounding board in many decision-making discussions. She also helps with marketing and sales. Handling the general accounting for the business is a major focus of mine. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Joining the North Carolina Pecan Growers Association has been very helpful with networking. We met our mentor and nursery source, Ben Byrd of Lakeview Pecans, at an association meeting early on when we were gathering information. Ben was incredibly helpful with advising us on establishing our orchard, and any questions we have had related to growing pecan trees. 

Pricing:

• 1 Pound Bag of Pecan Halves: $13.00
• 1 Pound Bag of Chopped Pecans: $13.00
• 3 Pound Bag of Pecan Halves: $36
• 3 Pound Bag of Chopped Pecans: $36

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pleasanthillpecans.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasanthillpecans/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pleasanthillpecans

Image Credits
Joe Brown
Sam Brown