PAULS VALLEY, Okla. -- Pauls Valley was once a major place of business in the railroad industry, but the city now thrives in part because of some popular desserts that make many people's mouths water.

Field's Pie Co. started more than 80 years ago in a family kitchen. Today, a factory pumps out as many as 10,000 pies in a single day.

Current owner Chris Field said pies have been part of his life since he was born. He said his grandmother came up with the recipe for the family's legendary pecan pie, which -- along with the business -- has stayed in the family ever since.

"When it first started, her recipe, it was so good and it got out," Fields said. "It's more of a traditional pecan pie. We're only using native pecans, which have more oil in them and only quality ingredients."

What started out as one woman in her kitchen has now grown to a staff of more than 30 who help carry the tradition forward each day. Workers make the dough fresh at the plant, then it gets pressed into pans.

After the pecans are dropped in, it's off to the oven, where the filling is added -- and everything is baked to a golden perfection.

The process is much more high-tech than in the 20s, Fields said. But he said the finished product -- and the reaction -- is still the same.

"A lot of women tell me they put it out at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and don't ever tell anybody they didn't make it ... that it's homemade," he said.

Field's does make other kinds of pies. They have chocolate, lemon and pumpkin pies, just to name a few -- although the pecan pies still make up 85 percent of their business.

Company officials said Field's pies are now shipped throughout the Southwest.