2025 Peanut Butter Challenge!

Peanuts, also known as groundnuts, earthnuts or goobers have a long history of cultivation. Unlike tree nuts, peanuts are grown underground which is how they earned the nicknames groundnut or earthnut. Originally native to South America, peanuts made their way to North America from Africa, where they were introduced by African slaves in the early 1800’s.

Overturned peanuts in a field ready to be harvested. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones

First grown in Virginia, peanuts were grown mainly for oil, food, and as a cocoa substitute. During this time, they were regarded as food for livestock and the poor. It wasn’t until the late 1800’s did their demand increase as there was a need for an affordable, high-protein food during the Civil War and World Wars. Their popularity also increased when showman, P.T. Barnum began selling hot roasted peanuts at his traveling circuses.

In the 1900’s, peanuts became a significant agricultural crop when the cotton boll weevil threatened the South’s cotton crop. Through the research findings and suggestions of Dr. George Washington Carver, peanuts were grown as a successful cash crop and contributed greatly to the sustainability of the farm. Though Dr. Carver did not invent peanut butter, he did invent more than 300 new uses for the peanut and peanut byproducts including shaving cream, leather dye, coffee, ink and shoe polish.

Jar of peanut butter surrounded by loose shelled peanuts. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones

Today, peanuts are grown in 13 states, across the United States and the U.S. is the third largest producer of peanuts in the world. In 2024, Florida harvested 157,000 acres of peanuts, averaging about 3,500 pounds per acre with a production value of roughly $149.5 million (Annual Crop Production 01/10/2025).

Peanut Fun Facts:

• 99% of peanut farms are family-owned, businesses averaging 200 acres
• There are four different types of peanuts – Runner, Valencia, Spanish and Virginia
• Peanut plants are legumes and fix beneficial nitrogen back into the soil
• Peanut butter is an excellent source of niacin, and a good source of vitamin E and magnesium
• Peanuts do not contain cholesterol and are low in saturated fat
• Peanut butter accounts for half of all peanuts eaten in the U.S.
• It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter
• There are enough peanuts in one acre to make 35,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• The average person will eat almost 3,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in their lifetime
• Women and children prefer creamy peanut butter, while most men opt for chunky
• Peanut allergies affect about 1.8% of U.S. children and 1.1% of adults the U.S. population

UF/IFAS Peanut Butter Challenge

Help us fight hunger by donating unopened, unexpired jars of peanut butter to the Peanut Butter Challenge! Every year UF/IFAS Extension Offices across the state coordinate the Peanut Butter Challenge to address hunger and food insecurity in our area. You can support the challenge and help fight hunger by donating unopened, unexpired jars of peanut butter, now through October 31^st, 2025 to your local UF/IFAS Extension office. Thanks to support from the Florida Peanut Producers Association and the Florida Peanut Federation, your peanut butter donations go even further!