Peanut butter on the mind – Gadsden Extension agents collect peanut butter to ease local hunger

Peanuts have a special, culturally-important place in the heart of Southern United States; it was thanks to peanuts and George Washington Carver that the south was able to recover after boll weevils decimated the southern cotton industry, and peanuts help renourish the soil in which the plants are grown.

Peanuts, especially peanut butter, is a comfort food to many Americans and the creamy butter is a healthy snack, sandwich filler, and survival food.

Every year, Americans devour 700 million pounds of the butter - that is enough peanut butter to slather the entire floor of the Grand Canyon.

Throughout history, especially southern history, peanuts and peanut butter have been a problem solving solution to economic problems, dietary requirements, and more - so the various extension offices across Florida are using peanut butter to solve yet another problem: local hunger.

Starting in October, and continuing until nearly the end of November, University of Florida IFAS Extension Offices in 52 Floridian counties will be collecting peanut butter and collaborating with local food banks to get the food items into the hands of local families in need.

This is a yearly project undertaken by county extension agencies, and Robbie Jones - Gadsden County’s Extension Director - Gadsden has seen sweeping success in getting peanut butter collections into the extension office.

“We were 3rd in the state last year,” said Jones.

The nearly 2-month collection period serves as a contest and a rallying cause for local extension agencies, who encourage local businesses, citizens, nonprofits, and civic groups to donate jars of peanut butter.

“The peanut butter challenge is a food drive contest, where individuals and companies can donate peanut butter [to UF/IFAS],” said Jones.

After the collection period is over, the local extension agencies work with Farm Share to distribute the peanut butter jars to the local food banks to help the Gadsden County community with food insecurity.

The program is sponsored by the Florida Peanut Producers Association and Florida Peanut Federation, who match donation amounts.

For each jar donated, the association and federation matches that - doubling the amount of donated peanut butter.

“Our goal is to raise the most we can locally,” said Jones. “We are consistently in the top 5 of most-donated counties, and we’d like to stay that way.”

Jones says that he and Evie Blount, Gadsden County’s 4-H Agent, are working with local businesses, youth, and civic groups to get donations in - but citizen involvement is always welcome.

“I’d like to get 3-4,000 jars of peanut butter. That is the kind of number that makes an impact [on hunger],” said Jones.

Peanut butter was chosen by the statewide IFAS program as the donated item based on its dietary and health benefits, as well as its shelf longevity - families don’t have to worry about a short shelf life with peanut butter, which can last upwards of two years, if left unopened (and 3 months, if opened).

Currently, Gadsden County Extension has one drop-off site for peanut butter donations to the cause - 2140 West Jefferson Street in Quincy.

Jones asks that individuals that want to help the donation drive do so by purchasing and donating jars of unopened peanut butter; monetary donations can be accepted, but are not preferred.

Ashley Hunter - editor@gadsdencountytimes.com

Peanut butter on the mind – Gadsden Extension agents collect peanut butter to ease local hunger

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Peanut butter on the mind – Gadsden Extension agents collect peanut butter to ease local hunger

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Gadsden equine community hosts Fall Horse Show

Blind student with photographic memory visits Havana school

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