VALDOSTA — In the fall at harvest time, nuts litter the ground wherever there are pecan trees. The harvest season for pecans runs from October through January, and it’s not uncommon to see people picking up pecans to sell to local businesses.

A number of pecan trees are on public property, like those on the lawn next to Guardian Bank on Norman Drive, and beside the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.

While the nuts on public property are apparently up for grabs, those on private property are strictly off limits.

Legally, nuts that fall in the right-of-way next to a county road or highway belong to the owner of the tree, said Ashley Paulk. In addition to his job as chairman of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, Paulk’s family owns Shiloh Farms, one of the largest pecan growers in the state.

What pecan growers do before harvesting, Paulk said, is sweep the pecans into a line before picking them up with harvesters. It’s not uncommon, he said, for people to park their car beside a pecan grove, run into the field and grab a couple bucketfuls of pecans. At harvest time, some pecan pilferers raid pecan groves at night during a full moon, he said.

Georgia leads the nation in pecan production, averaging 88 million pounds each year, according to the Georgia Pecan Commission. There are more than 500 varieties of pecans, nine of which are included on the price list at South Georgia Pecan Company. The most profitable type, called “desirables,” brings in 90 cents per pound.

Folks who pick up pecans to sell them in town typically find their way to either Guess Pecans or South Georgia Pecan Company, where they can be exchanged for cash.

The line of those who come to sell frequently stretches out the door at both businesses. People carry their pecans in a variety of ways: aluminum wash tubs, plastic buckets, garbage bags, grocery bags, etc.

Justin Myers, plant manager at South Georgia Pecan Company, said they have no method of tracking where the sellers get their pecans. Regarding in-shell purchasing, it’s not an issue they have any need to address, he said. They have, nevertheless, taken some steps to increase traceability.

“We decided to set a limit. Any individual who brought in 100 pounds, we ask for their name and driver’s license number, and we document how much they brought in and what type of pecans it was, but we can’t validate where they acquired those nuts from. We just try to show what’s coming through our door in quantity.”

Asked if he knew of people gathering pecans without permission and selling them, he said, “I spoke with a lady in her 70s a couple days ago. She said she woke up one morning and the sun was just rising, and she went out her front door to go get her paper and there were three people in her yard picking up pecans, and she said ‘What the heck are y’all doing, this is my property,’ and of course they ran.”

Jeffrey Griffin is one of those who showed up Wednesday at South Georgia Pecan Company to sell his pecans. He said he had permission from a property owner on Green Street to pick up the nuts in her yard to sell.

Does the pecan pilfering hurt the business of legitimate growers?

Absolutely, Myers said.

“A lot of your small farmers lose a lot of money. They rely on all of their crop to pay their land taxes, not to mention the next year’s expenses to be incurred through fertilization and irrigation. That’s a very big expense,” he said.

However, with the demand for the nuts and the easy access to trees, it’s doubtful that people who poach pecans will be deterred. And most of those with pecans to sell are getting the nuts from trees in their own yard. According to one seller, “It’s a great way to make some extra money for the holidays.”