SPFF News & Resources

A “superfood” is considered to be a nutrient-rich food that is beneficial for health and well-being, so peanuts naturally qualify, and that is something super important for farmers and the industry.

Samara Sterling, Ph.D., director of research for The Peanut Institute, says, “When you compare peanuts to kale, it’s a stark difference in terms of the amount you need to consume to reap the food’s benefits. For example, one serving of peanuts contains six times as much protein as a serving of raw kale and eight times as much niacin.”

Sterling joined Parker Wallace of Parker’s Plate and Sherry Coleman Collins with the National Peanut Board on a panel at the 2019 conference to talk about how peanuts have risen to the ranks of superfood. Listen to their opening remarks here:

Dr. Samara Sterling, The Peanut Institute

Parker Wallace, Parker’s Plate

Sherry Coleman Collins, National Peanut Board

2019 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Georgia Republican Congressman Drew Ferguson spoke to the 2019 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. Elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Ferguson represents the third district of Georgia, southwest of Atlanta, and serves on the House Ways and Means committee.

The congressman discussed trade issues, disaster aid, rural broadband and the crazy that is Washington DC these days. Listen and watch below.

Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) remarks

Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) interview

2019 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

One way that self-described “culinary goddess” Parker Wallace gets her groove on in the kitchen is with peanuts.

Author of Parker’s Plate and lover of food, Wallace was on the first general session panel at the 2019 SPGC about “Peanuts Rise to Superfood.” After that, she was “Entertaining with Peanuts” on the spouse program where she showcased her Thai Quinoa and Peanut Salad recipe.

Learn about Parker’s love for peanuts in this interview.

Interview with Parker Wallace, Parker’s Plate

How does this year’s peanut crop look in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi? We asked the execs for an update.

Jacob Davis is the new guy this year, just starting as executive director for the Alabama Peanut Producers Association on May 1. He says there is some discrepancy in the amount of acreage this year – somewhere between 150,000 and 170,000 acres in the state. Davis adds that dry conditions have been impacting the crop in the southeast part of Alabama.

Interview with Jacob Davis, Alabama Peanut Producers Association

Florida Peanut Producers Association executive director Ken Barton is happy to welcome the conference back to Panama City Beach and says the Florida crop is in mostly good condition right now with good moisture in most growing areas. However, there are many farmers still waiting for disaster assistance after last year’s Hurricane Michael that swept across the panhandle.

Interview with Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers Association

In Georgia, government numbers show a decline in peanut acreage this year but Peanut Commission executive director Don Koehler doesn’t see that. He is happy with the current crop condition, however. Overall, he says while a lot could happen before harvest, the crop looks pretty good right now.

Interview with Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission

Acreage is down significantly in Mississippi this year, according to Mississippi Peanut Growers Association executive director Malcolm Broome. Where they have been up to as much as 40,000 acres, Broome says changes in base acres in the 2018 farm bill combined with higher supplies and lower prices brought it down to about 25,000 this year.

Interview with Malcolm Broome, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

2019 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Jarret Paige is a new breed of intern working for the Georgia Peanut Commission this summer – he’s an engineering student.

“Our biggest thing is collaboration between the (UGA) College of Engineering and the Peanut Commission,” said Paige at #2018SPGC. His job this summer is engineering project development, or coming up with a list of projects of interest to the peanut commission that the college could involved different disciplines of engineering to accomplish.

Learn more in this interview –
Interview with Jarret Paige, GA Peanut Commission intern

2018 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Peanuts are a great source of protein and they offer a number of other health benefits. In addition to supplying peanuts to the world, growers are also helping to solve the challenge of peanut allergies that affect so many people. Through the National Peanut Board, peanut farmers have funded more than $21 million worth of research on the peanut allergy issue to try to figure out a solution.

“This year in January, based on some long-term research that’s been done on introducing peanuts very early. It can significantly help reduce the incidence of peanut allergy among your highest risk kids,” said Leslie Wagner, executive director of the Southern Peanut Growers, a non-profit trade association which receives funds through a self-assessed checkoff made by peanut farmers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.

Research shows an 86 percent reduction in the incidence of peanut allergy in high risk kids who have already displayed allergies to other foods or have parents with food allergies. New product developments in the peanut industry over the last decade include peanut powder, which is very accessible from a number of companies. That has made it much easier to introduce peanuts as early as four to six months of age.

General nutrition research that has been done on nuts shows that about 67 percent of all nuts eaten are actually peanuts. And eating a handful of any kind of nuts each days offers many health benefits.

“The truth is peanuts, almonds, walnuts… nutritionally are so similar,” said Wagner. “Peanuts have the most protein of any nut. Almonds have just a little bit more of the monounsaturated fat, but it’s so close that it’s not really a significant difference.”

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Leslie Wagner here:
Interview with Leslie Wagner, Southern Peanut Growers

2018 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Peanut industry lobbyist Bob Redding spoke with those gathered at this year’s Southern Peanut Growers Conference about key provisions in this year’s farm bill. Important items Redding discussed included a $535 reference price and $355 marketing loan, as well as a separate peanut payment limit. Redding also spoke about storage and handling provisions, which he called a target in this year’s bill. He told those in attendance that timing is critical with mid-cycle elections again on the horizon.

“Getting a five-year farm bill done and in the bank is important for our business. Very, very important,” said Redding, noting that an extension would complicate things for peanut producers.

Listen to Redding’s entire farm bill presentation here:
SPGC18 presentation by Bob Redding, peanut industry lobbyist

2018 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album