Link for 2022 & 2023 Press Releases
U.S. peanut industry donates 15 tons of peanut butter to Oklahoma City food bank.
August 6, 2024
August 5, 2024 (Alexandria, Va.)—The U.S. peanut industry today donated more than 15 tons of peanut butter to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Contributions came from the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES), the American Peanut Council’s Peanut Butter for the Hungry, and Peanut Proud. In total, the organizations donated 21 pallets (30,240 one-pound jars) of peanut butter. The donation was made as part of the 56th APRES Annual Meeting, which took place July 9-11 in Oklahoma City.
“Peanut butter is one of the most requested items by food banks in the U.S. because it’s shelf stable and protein packed, plus kids and adults love it,” said Darlene Cowart, chair of the APRES public relations committee and vice president of food safety and quality at Birdsong Peanuts. “The peanut industry feels it’s important to give back to communities that bring us together, such as Oklahoma City for the recent APRES meeting, so we are excited to make this donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to help those who are most vulnerable.”
Founded in 1980, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma distributes food through a network of more than 1,300 community-based partner agencies and schools in 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma. The Regional Food Bank not only distributes food, but it is also a leader in educating the public on hunger, advocating for those living with hunger and providing access to additional resources.
“Not only is peanut butter an incredible source of protein for Oklahoma families in need of food assistance, but it is also one of our most requested items,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “We are so thankful to the American Peanut Research and Education Society, Peanut Butter for the Hungry, and Peanut Proud for this generous donation.”
Managed by the American Peanut Council, the Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES) is a professional society that promotes scientific research on the properties, production and use of the peanut by providing forums, treatises, magazines and other forms of educational material for the publication and dissemination of scientific information and research papers.
The American Peanut Council’s Peanut Butter for the Hungry is an initiative of the U.S. peanut industry (including growers, shellers, manufacturers and allied industry members) to provide shelf stable, protein rich peanut butter to food banks throughout the U.S., as well as support the production and delivery of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to food insecure countries in the developing world.
Peanut Proud partners with state grower organizations to supply peanuts and peanut butter to U.S. food banks and school programs. The organization also donates peanut products to areas affected by natural disasters, as well as supports RUTF production.
Photos are located in the Photo Gallery.
The American Peanut Research and Education Society in Oklahoma City!
July 8-11, 2024
The 56th Annual APRES Meeting was held in Oklahoma City. It was a well-attended conference with researchers from all of the peanut producing states making presentations on their latest research projects. Dr. Rebecca Bennett USDA-ARS in Stillwater, OK was elected President.
The event kicked off with a pre-conference tour of Oklahoma Peanut Production. Starting at the Merlin Schantz Farm and moving to the Birdsong Buying Point in Eakly and then to the Caddo Research Station for lunch (sponsored by Helena) and updates from the OSU Department Heads as well as a look at some of the research plots on the station. Then the tour concluded with a visit to Gunter Peanut in Binger.
To see all the highlights of the event go to this link for the press release from Southwest Farm Press.
Important Press Releases
Sustainable U.S. Peanuts launches ‘24 crop year grower enrollment
October 15, 2024 (Alexandria, Va.)—The American Peanut Council today launched the 2024 crop enrollment for the Sustainable U.S. peanuts Initiative. In its fourth year, the initiative is supporting America’s peanut industry with metrics on the most efficient use of production resources and encouraging farm operation sustainability practices that will help meet customer expectations, lead to increased demand for peanuts and set the stage for long-term economic viability.
For growers who weren’t able to take advantage of early bird sign up during pre-harvest, they can enroll their ‘24 crop through April 2025 (or update their information from previous crop years) at https://sustainableuspeanuts.org/. An informational toolkit for growers can be accessed here: https://peanutsusa.com/our-work/sustainability.html.
“For peanut growers to be productive and profitable, the industry will need to increase demand for peanuts, and in our current market one of the biggest drivers for demand is quickly becoming sustainability,” said American Peanut Council President and CEO Richard Owen. “Because consumers are demanding sustainable food production practices, manufacturers, retailers and our international trading partners have the same expectations. To be competitive, both domestically and internationally, the industry will need to prove and document peanut sustainability, which is the goal of the initiative.”
Sustainable U.S. Peanuts is supported by the peanut industry and administered by the American Peanut Council. It is the first of its kind, industry led and industry fed, peanut sustainability initiative. Relying on growers to input their verifiable sustainability practices, the initiative aggregates sustainability data from across the entire peanut industry. It is creating transparency that will serve the entire supply chain- from the people who love to grow peanuts, to the people who love to eat them.
“The peanut industry has an incredible and evolving sustainability story to tell and the industry-supported Sustainable U.S. Peanuts Initiative is helping growers be part of the narrative,” said Owen.