The Peanut Podcast

Mexico is known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant traditions and delicious cuisine. The country has also recently established itself as the top export market for U.S. peanuts. In this episode, we explore the work the American Peanut Council has done to nurture this market, the popularity and uses of the peanut in Mexico (and the potential for peanut butter) and what characteristics of peanuts matter to Mexican buyers and cons...

Peanut production in the US is skyrocketing. Ten years ago, US peanut farmers produced a two-million-ton crop. Today it’s three million. In ten more years, it will likely be four million. Putting future peanut crops to good use will take innovative approaches and requires attention now to set farmers and the industry up for success. In this episode, we’ll learn about promising areas of innovation—like peanuts’ benefits for poultry ...

Whether today’s farmers come from a multi-generational line of growers or they're the first generation to be called to agriculture, those paths are filled with twists and turns, challenges, redemption and kindness. In this episode, we’re sharing compelling stories from the peanut grower community that open up new opportunities, possibilities and appreciation in agriculture. Featured peanut farmer guests on this episode are Kar...

Description: PB&Js have been a school lunch staple for generations—and at most schools they still are. The star ingredient, peanut butter, is nutritious, affordable, shelf stable and tasty. But food allergy concerns are a barrier to schools using more peanuts. Tapping into our recent Summer School Nutrition Summit, we’ll discuss the latest trends, what's on the minds of school nutrition leaders and how schools can serve pe...

 Farmers put their livelihoods on the line with each crop they plant, tend to and harvest. Now imagine 40% of that crop going into the trash instead of feeding hungry people. That’s the unfortunate situation we’re in with food waste in the US. But there’s a push from multiple sectors to get the most out of every ounce of nutritious food American farmers grow. We’ll explore the issue of food waste and how peanuts are part of the sol...

With the few months of 2023 behind us, it’s time to look into what’s working and what’s on the horizon in marketing. Are Gen Z and millennials still the darlings of marketing? How are brands and organizations reaching them, and what can the peanut industry learn? How do exports play into marketing trends? We’ll find these answers with perspectives from Caroline Coyle from Golin, Radhika Murari from OmMade peanut butter, Shelly Nutt...

 It’s a hot time for health. For the first time in almost 30 years, the FDA is planning to update its definition of healthy. In the nutrition community, there’s a movement to consider more factors, like age, lifestyle and culture, when recommending food choices. Consumers are considering health more holistically—not just as the food we eat but also our physical and mental wellbeing. We’ll explore how our thinking about “healthy” ha...

 Peanut oil may be best known as the oil of choice for frying that delicious Thanksgiving turkey or the classic Chick-fil-A sandwich. But changes in the marketplace, climate and economy are leading industry stakeholders to explore the possibility and opportunity of producing more peanut oil in the U.S. In this episode, we talk with National Peanut Board President & CEO Bob Parker, Texas A&M researcher Dr. John Cason and Exe...

George Washington Carver is known as the father of the peanut industry. He brought a new understanding of sustainable agriculture to the Southern U.S. to help farmers support their families and have a better life. In this episode, we go beyond the basics and explore Carver as a dynamic person who was a scientist, educator, artist, humanitarian and inspiration. This episode includes perspectives from Curtis Gregory from the George W...

Show Notes: 

For resources mentioned in the show: 

·       AgriSafe Resource Page 

·       National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

For more resources on mental health:

·       MentalHealth.gov 

·       Suicide Prevention Resource Center

·       National Alliance on Mental Illness

Sources:

·       Maintaining Mental Health During the Holiday Season (And A Pandemic)

·       The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on Ag...

Show Notes:  

To learn more about Virginia Carolinas Peanut Promotions, click here. 

 For more info on peanuts during the holidays:  

• The Ultimate Halloween Guide for Peanut & PB Lovers 
• Peanut Butter Lover’s Guide to the Holidays 
• 5 Gifts for Peanut Butter Lovers 
• 9 Gifts for the Peanut/Peanut Butter Lover in Your Life 
• 3 DIY Holiday Décor Ideas with Peanuts  
• Budget Friendly, DIY Holiday Décor with Peanuts  

For some delici...

Show Notes: 

To learn more about the organizations mentioned on today’s podcast: 

·       Project Peanut Butter

·       Peanut Butter for the Hungry

·       Peanut Proud 

·       Edesia 

To learn more about peanuts humanitarian relief and aid: 

·       Stock the Shelves with Peanut Butter at Your Local Food Bank this Summer

·       Here's a Unique and Fun Way to Help Your Local Food Bank

·       Journey of a Peanut Butter Jar: Fightin...

Most of us know the basics of how peanuts grow—and that there’s no such thing as a peanut tree! But unless you’ve been able to spend a good amount of time with peanut growers across the U.S., you may not know much about the different challenges and practices growers face throughout the Peanut Belt. Diverse soil types, equipment, diseases, weather and more can impact peanut production. 

Show Notes:  

To learn more about prod...

Innovation lights the fire for change and growth, and the peanut industry is ablaze! Today we highlight a few movers and shakers in the industry including a young farmer who’s growing organic peanuts and trying his hand at hemp; a Southwestern grower whose diversified operation won her family a peanut efficiency award; a third-generation family peanut business that’s exploring avenues like single-origin peanuts; a researcher who pu...

Everyone has their favorite food they like to pick up at the grocery store or order at a restaurant. There’s a lot to be said for the benefits of “the usual.” But for the food industry to stay primed for growth, it pays to keep a pulse on trends in dining out and eating at home. We’re talking about innovation in Mexican comfort foods like quesadillas, more hands-on experimentation in college dining, healthy eating in grocery stores...

Nutritionalist. Food police. Dietician. Registered dietitian nutritionists endure a lot of misunderstandings about their job title and what they do. In this episode, we make it easy to understand the roles RDNs play in our daily lives, including working with patients in hospitals, engaging shoppers at the grocery store level, building the school lunch menu, influencing menus at chain restaurants and more. We discuss how the Nationa...

Spring is in the air and opening day of baseball is just around the corner. Peanuts and baseball became a pair as early as the 1890s and is still a classic ballpark snack. We’ll highlight the history of peanuts and baseball, how in-shells are rebounding from the pandemic and how other sports are making new connections with peanuts and peanut butter. Our episode features Jeanne Cashman from Hampton Farms, Virginia peanut farmer West...

Just when we were getting settled in with the target of millennials, a new generation has entered the scene—Gen Z! Young people born between 1997-2012 are included in this latest demographic. They are entering the workforce, increasing their buying power and have behaviors and values that both complement and conflict with their millennial elders. We'll explore the key attributes of Gen Z, why they’re important to marketers and...