Forty of Florida’s 67 counties, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and the University of Florida’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) participated in the Peanut Butter Challenge in 2024. In total, 30,831 jars (39,898 lbs.) of peanut butter were donated and provided to local food pantries in each county. According to the National Peanut Board, “Consumption of peanut butter reached an unprecedented 4.4 pounds/person in 2023.” Based on their report, the 2024 Peanut Butter Challenge donations provided enough peanut butter to feed 9,068 Floridians through their local food pantries.
The Peanut Butter Challenge community service project originated at UF/IFAS Extension Offices in the Florida Panhandle. Not surprisingly, many of these counties had considerable contributions this year, with Okaloosa County donating the most peanut butter jars in the state. Some counties were not as successful this year, so this is a challenge for next October to get back on track. Holmes and Liberty Counties need to launch a drive next October. Franklin County and FAMU joined the effort this year. The table to the right shows donations for each of the 14 Panhandle Counties and FMU that participated from the Panhandle in the 2024 Peanut Butter Challenge.
UF/IFAS Extension, and our partner organizations, the Florida Peanut Producer’s Association, the Florida Peanut Federation, and FAMU thank everyone who made donations to the cause this year. All of the peanut butter donated was delivered to a food pantry in the county where it was donated, so while we have a fun competition amongst all of the counties, the real winners are the people who benefit from having nutritious food for their families. Thank you for taking part. If you missed the opportunity to donate this year, we will do this again in October 2025.
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