Join the Peanut Butter Challenge

What is the Peanut Butter Challenge?

This annual jar collection for local food pantries is hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension. Launched in the Florida Panhandle counties in 2012, it is again spreading statewide this year. Donate unopened, unexpired jars of peanut butter or alternative spreads (sunflower, hazelnut). Collections are tallied and distributed to local food pantries and food banks to address food insecurity, raise awareness of peanuts grown in Florida and bring communities together.

Donate

Unopened, unexpired jars of peanut butter can be donated to Levy County Extension office, 625 North Hathaway Avenue, Bronson, from Oct. 1-31.

Other Levy County collection sites include:

Williston Public Library, 10 SE 1st Street, Williston, FL 32696
Bronson Public Library, 600 Gilbert Street, Bronson, FL 32621
Luther Callaway Public Library, 104 NE 3rd Street, Chiefland, FL 32626
Levy County Clerk of Courts, 355 S Court St, Bronson, FL 32621

Coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension and FAMU faculty, staff and volunteers, the competition among counties – for bragging rights only – was conceived as a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays in addition to promoting a Florida-grown crop.

2023 collection totals

44 counties participated
19,350 jars
27,769 lbs
Enough for 440k peanut butter sandwiches
Santa Rosa County placed 1^st with 1,970 jars weighing in at 2,485 lbs.
Orange County 2^nd Place with 1,417 jars and 2,311 lbs.
Wakulla County 3^rd place 892 jars; 1,612 lbs.

Partners

Peanut butter is an ever-popular item in food pantries because of its nutrient density and shelf stability. 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.

machinery in a field picking and separating peanuts from the dry vines. — Mechanical harvesters harvesting peanuts. Photo taken 10-04-18.

Peanut production facts

75% of Florida peanuts are made into peanut butter; 25% is used for the next year’s seed, snack nuts, peanut candy and peanut oil.
Peanuts need 120 to 140 frost-free days.
The peanut is a legume, which fix nitrogen in the soil. This means adding nitrogen is unnecessary.
The peanut flowers above ground then the flower pegs to the ground where it matures underground before being dug.
Mature peanuts are dug out of the ground and (hopefully) air dried before harvest.

2024 Peanut Butter Challenge Needs YOU!

drop off peanut butter at Levy County Extension center — 625 North Hathaway Avenue, Bronson

You are invited to partner with Levy County’s collection this year. Drop off peanut butter or call 352-486-5131 for details. Until next time- Happy Gardening!

Resources

Florida Agriculture in the Classroom. https://faitc.org/floridas-peanut-industry/

IFAS Blogs. Peanut Fun Facts. http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/suwanneeco/2018/06/30/peanut-fun-facts/

National Peanut Board. https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/peanut-info/