Peanuts

Many people are surprised to learn that peanuts do not grow on trees like pecans or walnuts. Peanuts are legumes, not nuts. The peanut plant is unusual because it flowers above ground but the peanut grows below ground. Planted in the early spring, the peanut grows best in calcium rich sandy soil. For a good crop, 120 to 140 frost free days are required. Farmers harvest the peanuts in the fall. The peanuts are pulled from the ground by special machinery and turned over to dry in the fields for several days. The combine machines then separate the peanuts from the vines and blow the tender moist peanuts into special hoppers. They are dumped into a drying wagon and cured by forcing warm air through the wagons. Afterwards, the peanuts are taken to buying stations where they are inspected and graded for sale.

Click the Peanuts for Alabama Statistics.

There are 16,000 peanut farmers in nine primary states in the US. Peanut farms are mostly operated by family farmers who grow an average of 98 acres of peanuts each year on a 3-year rotation, usually with cotton, corn, soybeans and grass crops. Farmers sold their peanuts in the domestic market for about 30.5¢ a pound in 2001.

Nearly half of the US peanut crop was used to make peanut butter in 2001. Runner peanuts are preferred for peanut butter because they are very uniform in size, which is important to achieve evenly roasted peanuts for the best tasting peanut butter. Runner peanuts are grown primarily in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. These three states accounted for 60% of the U.S. crop in 2001. Brought to you by http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com/index.html

Peanut Factoids:

Did you know that the peanut is a legume related to peas

Would you believe Dr. George Washington Carver researched and developed more than 300 uses
for peanuts in the early 1900s?

Astronaut Allen B. Sheppard brought a peanut with him to the moon.

Can you believe that it takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter?

There are enough peanuts in one acre to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.

Would you believe that the world's largest peanut is 4 inches long and was grown by Earl Adkins
in North Carolina?

Tom Miller pushed a peanut to the top of Pike's Peak (14,100 feet)
using his nose in 4 days, 23 hours, 47 minutes and 3 seconds.

Did you know that Dr. George Washington Carver is considered "The father of the Peanut
Industry" because of his extensive research and selfless dedication to promoting peanut
production and products?

Did you know that peanuts contribute more than $4 billion to the U.S.A. economy?

Folks on the East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while those on the West Coast prefer the crunchy style?

Can you believe that almost one-third of the U.S.A. peanut crop is used to make peanut butter each year?

Can you believe the average American consumes more than six pounds of peanuts and peanut
butter products each year?

November is Peanut Butter Lovers Month.

Did you know that four types of peanuts are grown in the U.S.A. Runner, Virginia, Spanish and Valencia?

The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before he graduates high school.

Did you know peanuts are an excellent source of folic acid, which can reduce the risk of certain
birth defects in the brain and spinal cord?

Brought to you by the National Peanut Board located at http://www.nationalpeanutboard.com/

Peanut Processing Facts

Applying pressure to peanuts squeezes out their oil. This oil is excellent for cooking because it is tasteless and can be heated to very high temperatures before it smokes. (450 degrees F, which is hotter than most other cooking oils). With hotter cooking temperatures, food will cook faster and absorb less oil. Peanut oil does not absorb or transfer flavors, so the same oil can be used repeatedly to cook different foods.

Specially processed, defatted peanuts are available as roasted snack peanuts; may be ground into a flour, which can be used to make such foods as high protein drinks and snacks. Or, the defatted nuts may be granulated and added to breakfast or diet bars to raise their protein level.