Start Giving Season early this year by participating in UF/IFAS Extension’s Peanut Butter Challenge this October. Jackson County is participating again this year.
The friendly competition among counties asks community members to bring a jar of peanut butter to their local Extension office by Oct. 31, after which the totals will be counted and bragging rights awarded to the counties that collect the most. The donations are given to local food pantries, backpack programs and other partners in the fight against food insecurity.
“In 2025, youth and adults in Jackson County donated 2,855 jar of peanut butter, which totaled to 3,260 pounds for families in need. The support for this collection each year is incredible and helps so many families in our community. This year’s donations will be going to Backpacks for Kids – Jackson County, Inc. and Innovative Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc.,” said Terri Keith, UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and Peanut Butter Challenge coordinator.
The UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County office, located at 2741 Penn Avenue, Suite 3, Marianna, will be collecting donations of unopened, unexpired peanut butter jars of any size. Other community partners already signed on to accept donations include:
- Graceville Piggly Wiggly, 5355 Cotton Street, Graceville
- Greenwood Supermarket, 4185 Bryan Street, Greenwood
- Jackson County TIMES, 2866 Madison Street, Marianna
- McDaniel’s Piggly Wiggly, 8166 US Hwy 90, Sneads
- Spanish Trail Farms Storefront, 2019 Porter Avenue, Grand Ridge
In addition to its nutritional value and long shelf life, peanut butter was originally selected as the donation item as a way to highlight Florida’s peanut production. Peanuts, especially those grown for peanut butter, are a major crop in Florida, contributing $149 million to the state’s economy in 2024.
The Annual Peanut Butter Challenge began in Florida’s Panhandle counties in 2012 and spread statewide in 2020.
Partnerships are also welcomed, with organic competitions often springing up in schools, clubs, office buildings and the like. Contact the Jackson County Extension office to get connected at 850-482-9620.
In addition to the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) have partnered with the project for years. These organizations are based in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of the state and will again contribute to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions.
For more information about how to participate, visit sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/peanutbutter.
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