A path of shelled pecans makes its way through a host of unshelled ones. Pecans can be eaten fresh or used in cooking, particularly in sweet desserts, such as the pecan pie, a traditional southern U.S. recipe. Pecans are also a major ingredient in praline candy. The U.S. produces between 80% and 95% of the world's pecans, with an annual crop of 150–200 million kg (300–400 million pounds).Photo credit: Scott Bauer, ARS