Peanut-producing counties in Northwest Florida are competing to collect the most jars of peanut butter by Nov. 15.
SEE Okaloosa farmer Nick Marshall describe why he digs peanuts>>
The Florida Peanut Producers Association will match the amount we collect with the total amount donated to local food pantries.
We want Okaloosa County to win the Peanut Butter Challenge!
Why peanut butter?
The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before graduating from high school. Peanut butter is a good source of protein and other essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin E, niacin and magnesium.
It is an economical source of protein and is a wonderful food to pack on the go because it won’t spoil as quickly as most animal proteins will.
Please donate so that children can keep eating locally grown peanuts in healthy, nutritious and yummy peanut butter.
Okaloosa County farmers grew 2,885 acres of peanuts in 2012. Most peanuts grown in Florida are dried, shelled and processed into peanut butter, roasted nuts, candy or other products.
Of course, many of us enjoy fresh boiled peanuts, sold as “green” peanuts, during harvest time!
Here’s how you can participate in the challenge:
•Bring your unopened jars of peanut butter to one of the drop-off sites listed below.
•Tell your friends and families about the Peanut Butter Challenge.
•Encourage co-workers to join the competition.
Drop-off sites are as follows:
•UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County Office, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.
•USDA-NRCS Crestview, 938 N. Ferdon Blvd.: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
•Okaloosa County Farm Bureau Office, 921 W. James Lee Blvd., U.S. Highway 90, Crestview: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
•UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County Annex, 127 NW Hollywood Blvd., Fort Walton Beach: 9:30 a.m. to noon every Friday through Nov. 15.
Elaine Courtney is a Family & Consumer Sciences Extension agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Join the Peanut Butter Challenge (VIDEO)