Escambia Extension Among Top Collectors in Statewide Peanut Butter Challenge

December 6, 2024

Escambia County Extension ranked among the top collectors statewide for the annual Peanut Butter Challenge, collecting over 1,500 jars of peanut butter to earn fourth place in the state and second place in the district.

Escambia County’s peanut butter collections totaled more than 2,700 pounds.

The annual peanut butter drive is coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension, with donations collected to support local food pantries throughout the state.

Escambia County Extension Services Director Nick Simmons said the overall goal of the friendly competition between counties is twofold: Not only does it help feed families in need ahead of the holidays, but it also promotes a Florida-grown crop.

“Peanuts are one of our main commodities here in Northwest Florida, so this bridges the gap between agriculture and community needs,” Simmons said. “Hunger is a big need in the community, so this is a way we can bring both of those worlds together and promote nutritious meals while promoting the hard work that our farmers do.”

The peanut, which is produced mainly throughout the northern regions of the state including Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, contributed $137 million to the state economy in 2023, according to the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service.

Approximately 400 jars of peanut butter collected in Escambia County through the Peanut Butter Challenge were distributed during the annual Farm to City food distribution event last month, which provides Thanksgiving meal boxes to local families in need.

Dorothy Lee, a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent II with Escambia County Extension, said the Peanut Butter Challenge is especially important because it provides one of the most-requested food items to local food banks during the busy holiday season.

“The goal is to collect the peanut butter and be able to share it with our community food banks, especially during the holiday season when they have a lot of requests for food items,” Lee said. “Peanut butter is the number one item that’s requested at food banks. It’s high in protein and a good meat substitute, so it can really help those who are experiencing food insecurity.”

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News