Florida Ag Literacy Day showcases agriculture

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

photoFlorida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam helped celebrated Florida Agriculture Literacy Day by reading a new book on Florida farming to second graders from Florida A&M Developmental Research School in the historic Senate Chambers of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee.

“Florida Ag Literacy Day is a wonderful opportunity to teach our next generation about the Floridians who provide the food and fiber to meet the needs of the world’s growing population,” Commissioner Putnam says.

Commissioner Putnam read the book as the children followed along with their own copies. The kids talked about their favorite foods and where they came from. Afterwards, the kids sampled Fresh From Florida fruit and vegetables and roasted peanuts.

For the 11th Annual Florida Agriculture Literacy Day, Commissioner Putnam joined more than 2,000 others, including Florida farmers, growers, ranchers, FFA and 4-H students and teachers, extension agents, master gardeners and agriculture industry representatives who read in honor of the event.

This year’s Ag Literacy book, Florida Farms at School, highlights the agricultural programs already in schools, such as Agriculture in the Classroom, 4-H, FFA, Farm to School and others. Volunteers visited more than 3,600 elementary classrooms, reaching more than 72,000 Florida students in 60 counties around the state with the message of the importance of Florida agriculture.

“Florida Agriculture Literacy Day has become a very popular program in our industry because it gives farmers and others involved in agriculture a chance to step into the classroom and educate students about the important role agriculture plays in students’ daily lives,” says Ken Barton, chairman of the Florida Agriculture in the Classroom board of directors and executive director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association.

Florida Ag Literacy Day is sponsored by Florida Agriculture in the Classroom Inc., a nonprofit organization that develops and trains teachers and agriculture industry volunteers in agriculture curriculum in order to educate students on the importance of agriculture in Florida. The nonprofit is funded by sales of the specialty agricultural license plate known as the Ag Tag.

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Bay Area Food Bank receives peanut butter donation

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

PB Donation Mobile 1Thousands of needy families will be receiving peanut   butter thanks to a large donation from Peanut Proud and the Alabama Peanut Producers Association to the Bay Area Food Bank in Mobile, Alabama. The seven pallets of peanut   butter, 10,080 jars, were delivered to the food bank, courtesy of Southern Ag Carriers on Thursday, April 24, 2014.

“We’re very glad to receive this donation of peanut butter as it’s always one of our most needed items at the food bank,” says Dave Reaney, executive director of Bay Area Food Bank. “Its nutritious value makes it a great staple for growing children and for families on a budget trying to  provide healthy food choices.”

“Peanut butter is very nutritious and is packed with protein,” says Carl Sanders, president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. “So it’s no surprise that people in need of food, from facilities as our state’s food banks, have peanut butter at the top of their list.”

The peanut butter donated to the food bank will be distributed to help those in need across the state, including Mobile County and Baldwin County, Alabama.

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Georgia Peanut Commission sponsors recipe contest at Georgia School Nutrition Conference

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

2014_04_11_gsna_jekyll_21The Georgia Peanut Commission attended the Georgia School Nutrition Association annual conference held April 10-12 in Jekyll Island, Georgia. During the GSNA meeting, approximately 800-1,200 school nutrition personnel from throughout the state of Georgia attended educational seminars, visited with food industry representatives and received recognition for outstanding performance at their respective schools. During the meeting, GPC recognized winners of the GSNA recipe contest. This award was given to GSNA members who develop new peanut and peanut butter quantity recipes to be used in schools for breakfast and lunch.

“We are excited to present the peanut recipe awards to members of the Georgia School Nutrition Association who are developing new recipes using peanuts and peanut butter,” Dawson says. “We applaud all GSNA members for striving to promote numerous health benefits by incorporating peanuts and peanut butter in their nutritional programs.”

In the breakfast category, Jane Raburn from Carrollton Middle won first place for her “Breakfast Bites: Peanut Oatmeal” recipe, second place went to Ann Hamner from Britt Elementary and third place went to Marie May with Lowndes High. In the lunch category, first place was awarded to Ann Hamner from Britt Elementary for her “Chicken and Pasta in Peanut Sauce” recipe, second place went to Jennifer Scott from Perry Primary and third place went to Jane Raburn from Carrollton Middle.

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Mississippi Peanut Growers Association and Southern Peanut Growers exhibits at Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietectics Conference

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

2014 MS ANDThe Mississippi Peanut Growers Association along with the Southern Peanut Growers had an exhibit booth at the Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibition on April 10, 2014, in Biloxi, Mississippi. The meeting attracted approximately 200 participants from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama in all areas of practice, including long-term care, hospital setting, academics, food service, and culinary arts.

During the event, representatives were able to tell the story of the nutrition    benefits of peanuts to the attendees as they visited the booth and provide attendees with literature on heart health, diabetes, diabesity, recipes and even a sample bag of peanuts.
Malcolm Broome, MPGA executive director and Leslie Wagner, SPG executive director, worked the booth. Wagner was sponsored by MPGA as the presenter for a one-hour breakout session on the good nutrition of peanuts and peanut butter. Several of the attendees picked up the recipes that were available at the booth and many were not aware of peanuts being heart healthy and an ideal food for diabetics.

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March of Dimes Peanut teams promote healthy babies in Alabama

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

Walking 2Members of two 2014 March of Dimes Peanut Teams for Mobile County and the Dothan-Houston County area, joined hundreds recently by participating in the March of Dimes’ annual March for Babies events held April 26, 2014.  The events were held at the Geri Moulton Children’s Park in Mobile and at Westgate Park in Dothan, Alabama. This marks the fifth consecutive year the Alabama Peanut Producers Association has sponsored the Kids Activities tent at both of these events. Children of all ages and their parents visited the peanut tent to make arts and crafts, sample peanuts and get information on the health benefits of peanuts.  Such walks are held across the U.S. to help raise money so the March of Dimes can fund research and help prevent prematurity and birth defects. Representatives from the APPA, Alfa Women’s Committee and the National Peanut Festival made up the peanut teams for this year’s events.

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Florida Peanut Producers attends Florida School Nutrition Conference

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

fppa_photo_schoolnutritionThe Florida Peanut Producers Association attended and exhibited at the 64th Annual Florida School Nutrition Association Conference recently held at the Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. Approximately 1,100 school nutrition personnel from across the state attended the conference. The attendees included school food service directors, managers, dieticians and cafeteria staff.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Bridge the Gap.” Sessions were designed to help build stronger relationships with industry partners and to provide the continuing education to help school food service personnel provide Florida’s students with healthy, nutritious meals.

“Attending the Florida School Nutrition Association Conference allows us the opportunity to collect useful data to determine peanut product usage in school districts across the state,” says Ken Barton, FPPA executive director. “By using the information collected at the conference we can focus on those schools and school districts that are not currently using peanut butter and other peanut products in their breakfast and lunch menus and provide them with the health and nutritional information and planning guides to help get peanut products on their menu.”

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USDA-AMS rules Arkansas a primary peanut producing state

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) ruled, effective March 24, 2014, to add the state of Arkansas as a primary peanut producing state under the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The Order is administered by the National Peanut Board. This rule also adds a seat on the National Peanut Board for Arkansas. Under the Order, primary peanut producing states must maintain a three-year average production of at least 10,000 tons of peanuts. Primary peanut producing states also have a seat on the board.

Currently, the board is composed of 11 producer-members and alternates: one member and alternate from each primary producing state and one at-large member and alternate collectively from the minor peanut-producing states. This rule classifies the state of Arkansas as a primary peanut-producing state and specifies the board will be composed of 12 peanut producer-members and their alternates rather than 11. The members and alternates are nominated by state  producers or producer groups.

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Peanut industry sends farm bill support letter to USDA

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

uscapitolThe Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, National Peanut Buying Points Association and the American Peanut Shellers Association joined in sending a letter of support for the 2014 Farm Bill to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The groups highlighted support for new provisions in the Farm Bill addressing base acres. Although there are some provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014 that are similar to the 2008 Farm Bill, there are also significant changes. Our organizations support the intent of the Conference Committee and its leadership for these new provisions including the Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage Programs. The Agricultural Act of 2014 includes new provisions for base acres for covered commodities and generic base acres. We support the Conference Committee’s intent relative to the implementation of provisions for base acres for covered commodities and generic base acres.
View the entire letter

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Leaders participate in D.C. session

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden with the Southern Peanut Farmers Leadership AcademyPeanut farmers and shellers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi visited Washington D.C.  during the Peanut Leadership Academy held in March. The program is sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection and the American Peanut Shellers Association. During this trip, participants had the opportunity to attend meetings with legislators and participate in meetings related to government affairs, international peanut markets, policy development and the U.S. peanut industry. This session is the fourth and final component of the Peanut Leadership Academy before graduation in June 2014.

Day one of the session consisted of meetings with industry representatives including: Bob Redding, The Redding Firm; Reece Langley, USA Rice Federation; Dr. David Graves, Crop Insurance; Rep. Alan Nunnelee, R-Miss.; and Patrick Archer, American Peanut Council. During this time, participants were able to learn more about the 2014 Farm Bill, particularly peanut provisions, ask questions related to their individual states, as well as hear how peanut industry groups are working on their behalf.

Meetings with state legislators began day two in Washington, D.C. where participants were able to visit with senators and representatives from each of the Southeastern peanut-producing states. During these meetings, they were able to express concerns related to their state, as well as express gratitude for their delegation’s service and support. Lunch on day two included a meeting with guests from the House Ag Committee, where more discussion on the 2014 Farm Bill took place. To conclude day two, growers had a special opportunity to meet with Krysta Harden, deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Peanut Leadership Academy, which is coordinated by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, provides leadership training for young farmers and sheller representatives throughout the peanut industry. Through the training, participants gain valuable leadership skills to be used in the future. Additionally, it gives growers and industry representatives an insight into many different types of issues the peanut industry faces.
Additional information on the Peanut Leadership Academy is available online at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org.

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Peanuts are a big hit at the Alabama School Food Service and Nutrition Expo

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Joy Crosby

School Food Service Expo pic 2The Alabama Peanut Producers Association recently exhibited at the Alabama School Food Service and Nutrition Expo held March 13-14, 2014, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham, Ala. Peanut samples and peanut recipes, including school food service recipes, were distributed to the hundreds visiting the show. A new peanut butter promotional banner was displayed for the first time at the show that served as both an educational prop and a photo background. The theme for the banner, “A Healthy American Classic: PB&J,” delivered a nutritious message and featured a framed photo of a child eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. A special photo frame was used as a prop for people who wanted to pose by the pb&j banner photo. Those attending the expo included members from the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals, Alabama Dietetic Association and the Alabama School Nutrition Association.

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