What Is a ‘Cosmic Pecan’?

Hannah Nibert

Eventually time and old age caught up with Jeffrey Nibert’s uncle. About nine years ago, Nibert got a call from his dad. “We need you to come home and take over if you want to learn how to do this,” his uncle told him.

Nibert’s uncle operated the family farm, but he was now in his late 80s. “He had neglected it for a long time. Twin Rivers Farm was in disarray,” Nibert says.

At the time, he was a flyfishing guide in northeastern New Mexico, where he had also met his wife, Hannah. So, the Niberts made the life-changing decision to move to Roswell, NM. And it’s been hectic fun ever since.

“I enjoy the hard work,” Nibert says. “I’m very proud that we’ve been able to turn my uncle’s farm around. Today, we have 700 trees, of which 125 are fully producing. We also have 575 trees in a nursery orchard.”

Nibert grew up in Roswell and gained experience with pecans at his parents’ home, where they had a small orchard with 39 trees. While the pecans from Twin Rivers Farm are sent to a processing facility, the backyard nuts are turned into a handcrafted item.

After the pecans are harvested and shelled, they flavor and bag about 1,500 pounds, Nibert says. In a nod to Roswell’s space alien history, the nuts are sold as “Cosmic Pecans” and come in flavors like buttery garlic and dill pickle.

Meet Normex: A Top Producer in Roswell

Normex is another family-owned pecan producer with deep Roswell roots. A retired federal judge moved to New Mexico and planted pecans on his land in 1982. Eventually, a friend purchased the property, turning it into a family business.

Shay Wagner, Normex’s farm manager for 18 years, grew up farming in Roswell. “We raised corn, alfalfa, wheat and barley,” Wagner says. “Then, I went to New Mexico State University for an ag degree. I’ve always had a desire to be in agriculture. For one, you’re feeding the world.”

Today, Wagner’s team has grown Normex into a top U.S. pecan producer, with 13,000 trees in production on 285 acres.

Wagner says Normex outputs more than 9 million pounds of pecans annually. After harvesting, they’re trucked to Las Cruces in south-central New Mexico for processing.

“We started a co-op there a few years ago with about 30 other farms,” Wagner says. “All of our pecans are shelled and packaged and then sold to major wholesale, retailers and food service providers, mainly in the U.S. but globally, too.”

Normex’s co-op commands about 15% of U.S. market share, and its member farms range from California to Georgia.

“Pecans grow in a band across the southern U.S,” Wagner says. “Here in Roswell, we have the occasional spring frost or fall freeze, but generally our mild climate gets the perfect amount of moisture and sunshine.”

Diversification Is Key

While Normex has achieved global success with one agricultural product, Nibert says diversification is crucial to his business.

“These days, you can’t just do farming. You have to have other things feeding the fire. That’s why I’m working at our campground,” he says, stopping the conversation occasionally to direct traffic.

In addition to producing pecans, the Nibert’s grow grass and alfalfa hay. They also host events, like parties and weddings. On this day, RVs were arriving for an air show.

“I hadn’t done anything yet with the back half of the farm, so we made a temporary campsite and vendor area,” he says.

Nibert enjoys the creative challenge of rejuvenating his uncle’s aging business and bringing something back to his family. And he’s pretty sure his uncle would approve. “He got to see about 85% of what we’re doing before he passed at age 97,” Nibert says. “I would just hope he would say great job and keep going.”

Hannah Nibert

Cosmic Pecans: They’re Out of This World

Nibert originally sold his pecans in plain plastic bags at Roswell’s Saturday farmers market. But sales were so good that he and his wife, Hannah, created a separate business, Cosmic Pecans, featuring out-of-this-world flavors and a space age logo.

You’ll find their nuts at the farmers market as well as in Roswell stores such as The Alien Depot at Trailer Village RV Park and the Valero gas station north of downtown where “the owner has a special section that’s just New Mexico products,” Nibert says.

The Cosmic Pecans website offers seven different seasonings, including red chile and green chile, which are also certified as New Mexico Grown, New Mexico True and NM Taste of Tradition, programs promoting state-grown products. Cosmic Pecans are also available at the New Mexico State Fair’s Country Store in Albuquerque.

As for Normex, because the company only sells wholesale, you won’t find them at retail locations in Roswell. However, Matas Pecans is another business selling locally grown nuts in downtown Roswell.