As Libbie Johnson drove along Cantonment, Florida roads, she saw the dust from peanut farmers floating in the air.
Seeing the panhandle farmers inspired Johnson, the agricultural agent for UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Escambia County, to co-organize a peanut butter challenge in collaboration with the Florida Peanut Producers Association, which began Monday.
The challenge, organized by the UF/IFAS Northwest Extension District, donates peanut butter to hungry families, Johnson wrote in an email. The project helps those who are food insecure and supports local farmers.
“Food pantries look forward to us coming in December to replenish their peanut butter stores,” Johnson said.
Though the challenge started in 2012, this year the county added a new drop-off location and expanded to another participating church. Johnson said they have been working to expand the challenge so more Floridians become aware that peanuts are a local crop.
The goal is to donate 10,000 pounds of peanut butter across northwest Florida, she said. In 2017, the district collected 8,910 pounds of peanut butter, not including the match from local peanut producers, which can bring the total to more than 20,000 pounds, she said.
Rodney Helton, a local Escambia County peanut farmer, spends this time of year harvesting and enjoys participating in the challenge, he said.
“I’ve actually been on the deliveries, everybody is excited,” Helton said. “They come running, it’s amazing how appreciative they are.”
UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences collected peanut butter set for donation in the northwest Florida district in 2017. That year, 8,910 pounds of peanut butter were donated.
