Pecan nuts, known for their rich taste and nutritional value, have an interesting history that connects to their presence in Israel. The word "pecan" originates from an Algonquian word used by Native Americans, referring to nuts that required a stone to crack. The pecan tree, a large deciduous species, produces a fruit technically known as a drupe, not a true nut.

Commercial growth of pecans in the United States didn't begin until the 1880s, although wild pecans were well known and enjoyed as a delicacy before this time. Pecans require a lot of water, especially during the growing season, and depend heavily on irrigation systems for optimal growth. They are one of the most recently domesticated major crops, with a significant portion of global production coming from the United States and Mexico.

The introduction of pecans outside their natural range is traced back to the late 18th century, when Daniel Clark, Jr., from New Orleans, sent a box of pecans to then-Vice President Thomas Jefferson. However, it wasn't until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that pecans were cultivated more systematically and extensively.

As for Israel, while the specific details of pecans' introduction and cultivation aren't clearly outlined in the sources, it is evident that pecan trees, like many other non-native crops, would have been brought in and adapted to local agricultural practices over time. Given Israel's advancements in agricultural technology and irrigation, it's plausible that pecans would be a part of the diverse agricultural landscape in the region.