Celebrate Peanut Butter Lovers Month, Get to Know America’s Peanut (Butter) Farmers
November is Peanut Butter Lovers Month! That tasty jar of peanut butter you keep in your pantry – do you know who helped make it?
Happy Peanut Butter Lovers Month!
That tasty jar of peanut butter you keep in your pantry – do you know who helped make it? Thousands of runner variety peanut farmers from Mississippi to Florida. Southern Peanut Growers is a non-profit trade association representing peanut farmers in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. Discover the stories and recipes behind “America’s PB Farmers.”
“When you purchase a jar of peanut butter, you are supporting American agriculture, family farmers and local economies,” said Leslie Wagner, executive director for Southern Peanut Growers. “Peanut butter is produced by farmers throughout the Southeast, creating an industry that has a $2.5 billion impact on the region. And no one knows more about how to use delicious peanut butter than the 5,500 Southeastern farmers who grow more than 1.15 million acres of peanuts.”
Here’s a taste of America’s PB Farmers and their favorite recipes:
Thomas Adams; Newville, Ala.: Thomas is a third-generation farmer working together with his father. Thomas’ love for peanuts is about more than the tasty treats - it is deeply rooted in his family’s history. The pair, along with help from his teenage son, tend to nearly 800 acres of peanuts on their 2,100- acre farm.
As Thomas likes to say, "the best foods are memories," and for the Adams family, that means his mom's Peanut Butter Squares.
Find out more about Thomas here.
Casey Cox; Camilla, Ga.: Twenty-five-year-old Casey Cox has been farming her family’s 3,400 acres of peanuts, sweet corn, soybeans and more for nearly three years. Casey is not only the sixth generation in her family to farm along the Flint River, but she also serves as the executive director of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District.
With her roots firmly planted in the peanut industry, it comes as no surprise that she can make a swoon-worthy Peanut Butter Pie. Discover even more about Casey.
Bernard ‘B.’ Jones; Ridgeland, Miss.: A fourth-generation farmer, B. works with his brother, Will, and grows peanuts, cotton, soybeans and corn on his 3,800 acre-farm located in the heart of Mississippi on the edge of the Delta.
His family loves to use peanuts and peanut butter to put a Thai spin on fresh gulf shrimp in his favorite Shrimp Pad Thai.
Learn even more about B. Jones.
When you purchase a jar of peanut butter, you are supporting American agriculture, family farmers, and local economies
Michael Davis; Graceville, Fla.: A sixth-generation farmer, Michael Davis is raising his family to share his love of peanuts. On his 8,000-acre farm, he and his wife, Lisa, have nearly 2,500 acres dedicated solely to growing peanuts. His daughter, Mikaela, also plans to rejoin him at the farm full-time once she graduates college.
Michael always has four to five jars of peanut butter in the pantry so he can reach for a spoonful of the sticky spread to create a healthy snack or easy meal anytime.
Carl and Jonathan Sanders; Dothan, Ala. Carl and Jonathan, father-son duo, are fourth- and fifth-generation peanut farmers on their 1,000-acre farm. They farm peanuts among other crops. Carl strives to “leave the land better for the next generation.”
Carl and Jonathan are true peanut butter lovers and know a thing or two about crafting the perfect PB&J. Their favorite recipes are Grilled PB&J and a Peanut Butter Shake, respectively.
Discover more facts about peanut butter and the farmers who grow them here.
About Southern Peanut Growers
Established in 1980, Southern Peanut Growers is a non-profit trade association representing peanut farmers in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. The organization educates American consumers about the U.S. peanut industry and its products.
Check out Southern Peanut Growers’ inaugural list, The Five Best Cities for Peanut Butter Lovers!
Think your city should be included? Share why on social media with the hashtag #TopPBCities throughout November for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a local shop/restaurant of your choice!
Guest blog written by Southern Peanut Growers and edited by AFBFA. All photographs in this article have been provided by Southern Peanut Growers.
