The Shadow
FRANKLIN- To honor March as National Peanut Month, the Virginia Peanut Board and Virginia Peanut Growers Association are teaming up with Peanut Proud to contribute pallets of peanut butter to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, a partner state association of Feeding America.
National Peanut Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the versatility of the humble peanut. Peanuts are not only delicious but boast amazing health benefits and can be used in a plethora of different ways. The Virginia-type peanut, grown primarily in Virginia and the Carolinas, is known for its extra-large size, distinct nutty flavor, and characteristic crunch. Virginia has more than 200 growers that produce peanuts on over 28,000 acres annually.
This will be the fourteenth year that Virginia’s peanut growers have contributed at least 2 pallets (2,880 jars) to kick off the March celebration. This year the donation increased with a 6 pallet contribution from Peanut Proud for a total of 8 pallets (11,520 jars). Peanut Proud is a peanut industry sponsored charitable organization that reacts to existing needs, whether it be for food banks in the peanut growing states or disaster relief. Peanut Proud and the Virginia Peanut Growers Association have partnered for this donation for the past 10 years.
Virginia’s seven regional food banks will all benefit from this 8 pallet contribution and will distribute the peanut butter throughout their network of 1,100 pantries, soup kitchens, and other partner agencies.
“Our peanut growers here in Virginia are honored to make this donation of high-quality peanut butter each year,” says Caitlin Joyner, Executive Director of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association. “Peanut butter is a highly nutritious staple product that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It remains one of the most needed items of food banks across Virginia. We want to thank our growers as well as our partners at Peanut Proud for increasing our donation so that all our regional food banks can benefit.”
“Demand for emergency food assistance remains high across the Commonwealth,” said Eddie Oliver, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. “Higher costs at the grocery store are straining the budgets of our food insecure neighbors and our food banks. We could not be more grateful for this large donation of nutritious, delicious peanut butter from our friends at the Virginia Peanut Growers Association.”
The Federation of Virginia Food Banks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit state association of food banks affiliated with Feeding America. The Federation supports the seven regional Virginia/ Washington DC food banks in building partnerships, securing resources, sharing data, and raising awareness of food insecurity throughout the Commonwealth.
Contact: Caitlin Joyner, Executive Director, Virginia Peanut Growers Association at 757-569-0249.
