Building Relationships 

Over the years, the store has grown. But one thing that has never changed: Richard and Tammy listen to their customers.

“We meet a lot of people around the coffee pot,” Tammy said. “We try to listen to their needs.”

Some regulars make the trip just once a year – stocking up on freshly made pecan pies for holidays or chocolate pecan fudge.

A Tested Operation 

Their office, which the pair has shared for years, is where Richard handles the operations of the cleaning and shelling plant, and Tammy manages all of the e-commerce—online orders that come from all around the world. Behind the office is a commercial kitchen where Tammy bakes about 4,000 pecan pies a year.

“There’s a method to my madness,” Tammy said. “I’ve been baking since I was about seven years old. I love the rhythm of it. When I get into work in the morning, it’s the first thing I do.”

Adapting with Support 

Richard says that every pecan season is different—“sometimes the stars align and sometimes they don’t.” Regardless, the Merritts have found ways to keep their business thriving, through online mail orders and digital marketing.

By partnering with Southwest Georgia Farm Credit, Merrit Pecan can thrive in good pecan seasons and bad.

This article was originally sourced from Southwest Georgia Farm Credit’s publication, Winegrass.