NICEVILLE, FLA — Spread the word and the peanut butter. Join Okaloosa County Extension along with the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Peanut Producers Association to help take a bite out of hunger by participating in a local peanut butter drive.
We are competing against other peanut producing counties in the Panhandle for the most jars of peanut butter donated. Participate and help make Okaloosa a winner. The Florida Peanut Producers Association and the Florida Peanut Federation match donations.
Bring unopened jars of peanut butter to one of the below drop-off locations October 1 through November 25. All peanut butter collected will be donated to local food pantries to help feed families in need during Farm-City Week.
Peanuts are grown on an estimated 163,000 acres in Florida with Okaloosa County growing almost 3,000 acres. The two largest peanut producing counties in Northwest Florida are Jackson County with almost 35,000 acres and Santa Rosa County with more than 22,000 acres.
Ten states grow 99 percent of the U.S. peanut crop: Georgia (which grows about 42% of all U. S. peanuts), followed by Texas, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The southeast is the largest peanut production region, with Florida producing approximately 9% of the total national crop.
The majority of peanuts grown in Florida are dried, shelled and processed into peanut butter, roasted nuts, candy or other products. But for those that enjoy boiled peanuts, we do have some fresh market peanuts, also referred to as “green” or “boiling” peanuts sold this time of year as peanuts are being harvested.
It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter. About 290 million US residents eat peanut butter as a high-protein, high-energy, high-nutrient delicious food according to a 2017 survey. Keep children eating locally grown peanuts in healthy, nutritious and yummy peanut butter by donating jars of peanut butter.
Drop-off locations include:
Okaloosa County Extension Office
3098 Airport Road in Crestview
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Okaloosa County Farm Bureau Office
921 West James Lee Blvd. (Hwy. 90) in Crestview
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tiffany Woodham State Farm Insurance
938 N Ferdon Blvd, (Hwy. 85) in Crestview
Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Note: Some locations will be closed Wednesday, November 11 for Veteran’s Day observance.
For more information about the Peanut Butter Challenge, contact the Okaloosa County Extension Office at (850) 689-5850.
Larry Williams is the Extension horticulture agent with the Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida. Contact Larry at 689-5850 or email lwilliams@myokaloosa.com.
