The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association is still the “new kid on the block” at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, even though they have been involved since 2006. Because Malcolm Broome is the newest of the executive directors charged with planning the conference, the running joke this year was that he got blamed for anything that went wrong! Malcolm says being … Read More
Playing for More Than Peanuts
The compassion of the southern peanut industry toward victims of this year’s devastating tornadoes was on display at the SPGC Casino Night to raise more money for Peanut Proud relief efforts. When Peanut Proud president LeaJean Manry showed a video of the tornado-ravaged areas where they have helped out this year, there was hardly a dry eye in the house. … Read More
USDA Official Talks Trade at Peanut Meeting
Increasing global demand for food will keep world agricultural trade on the forefront for U.S. producers well into the foreseeable future. “You’re talking about farmers getting anywhere from 25% to 33% of their income from products being sold overseas,” said USDA Global Analysis and Policy Division Deputy Director Daniel Whitley in an interview with Randall Weiseman of Southeast AgNet after … Read More
Kelley Manufacturing CEO Receives Valor Award
E. Lanier Carson (right), CEO of Kelley Manufacturing Company (KMC), received this year’s Valor Award at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference from Valent’s John Altom. Presenting the award, John noted that since Lanier started working with KMC in 1972 as a production engineer, he has seen many changes to the equipment used to harvest peanuts. “His first experience with peanuts … Read More
MANA From Peanuts
Kind of like the Israelites received manna from heaven to keep them from starving in the desert, malnourished children in the world are getting needed nutrition through MANA from peanuts. Mark Moore, CEO of MANA Nutrition explained how at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. “MANA stands for Mother Administered Nutritive Aid and our vision is that we can put this … Read More
Support Needed for Land Grant Universities
The deans of the agriculture colleges for the major land grant universities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi all attended the 2011 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Friday to deliver the same message – funding for agricultural research is down at a time when it is needed more than ever before. Pictured here, from left to right, Dr. George Hopper with … Read More
Spreading Peanut Butter Love
Southern Peanut Growers are spreading more peanut butter love than ever. I talked with Leslie Wagner, executive director of the marketing organization for southern peanuts, and she is excited about their new website and social media outreach. “We started Facebook and Twitter last year and we also started PB&J My Way, a consumer recipe promotion,” she said. “We continued that … Read More
Florida Peanut Producers Happy to Host Conference
Central location and beautiful beaches are the main reasons why Panama City, Florida has been the place for southern peanut industry members and their families to gather once a year for a “working vacation.” “This continues to be a combined effort between the four southeastern states and together we coordinate this conference, plan the program and include some time in … Read More
Peanut Proud Helping Tornado Victims
The peanut industry has been blessed with much and they are pleased to be able to give back when they can to help others less fortunate. Peanut Proud was an effort started two years ago when the peanut industry faced the salmonella outbreak that threatened consumer perceptions of healthy peanut butter. When the industry came through the challenge stronger than … Read More
Young Grilled PB&J Chef
The grilled PB&J sandwiches sponsored by the National Peanut Buying Points Association are always a big hit during the registration/social at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. This year, the PB&J station was manned by an aspiring young chef by the name of Cole Jordan. Cole is from a little town in north Florida called Malone, which is close to the … Read More