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.
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
Peanut Production Facts
- In the Suwannee Valley region, approximately 81,600 acres were planted with peanuts.1
- 75% of peanuts produced are made into peanut butter; 25% is used for the next year’s seed, snack nuts, peanut candy and peanut oil.2
- The peanut, produced mainly throughout the northern regions of the state, contributed $137 million to the state economy in 2023.
- The Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) have partnered with community donations 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.
Join the 2024 Peanut Butter Challenge!
To join or partner with Levy County’s collection this year, drop off peanut butter or call us at 352-486-5131 for details. Until next time- Happy Gardening!
Resources
1 IFAS Blogs. Peanut Fun Facts. http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/suwanneeco/2018/06/30/peanut-fun-facts/
2 Florida Agriculture in the Classroom. https://faitc.org/floridas-peanut-industry/
USDA-NASS 2017 Census of Agriculture. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_County_Level/Florida/st12_2_0025_0025.pdf
National Peanut Board. https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/peanut-info/
FDACS 2022 Agriculture by the Numbers report https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/114369/file/Florida-Ag-by-the-Numbers-2022-Final.pdf
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