Peanut butter has always one of my favorite snacks that when paired with a apples or carrots makes for a delicious treat. I also make it (almost) every day in my daughter’s lunch and she has grown to love it on celery, and of course, in our oatmeal peanut butter cookies. To celebrate the National Peanut Butter Day, the National Peanut Board shared some interesting facts with me about its nutrition, production and farming techniques.
Fun Facts:
* It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
* There are enough peanuts in one acre to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
* By law, any product labeled “peanut butter” in the United States must be at least 90 percent peanuts.
* Peanut butter was first introduced to the USA in 1904 at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis by C.H. Sumner, who sold $705.11 of the “new treat” at his concession stand.
Consumption Facts:
* The average American consumes more than six pounds of peanuts and peanut butter products each year.
* The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before he/she graduates high school.
* Americans consume on average over 1.5 billion pounds of peanut butter and peanut products each year.
* Peanut butter is consumed in 90 percent of USA households.
* Americans eat enough peanut butter in a year to make more than 10 billion peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
* The amount of peanut butter eaten in a year could wrap the earth in a ribbon of 18-ounce peanut butter jars one and one-third times.
Farming Facts:
* There are four types of peanuts grown in the USA — Runner, Virginia, Spanish and Valencia.
* Peanuts are planted after the last frost in April or early May and heaviest harvesting months are September and October.
* The peanut growth cycle from planting to harvest is 120 to 160 days or about five months.
* The peanut plant originated in South America.
* The peanut plant produces a small yellow flower.
Nutrition Facts:
* The peanut is not a nut, but a legume related to beans and lentils.
* Peanuts have more protein, niacin, folate and phytosterols than any nut.
* Peanuts have a higher antioxidant capacity over grapes, Concord grape juice, green tea, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots and many more.
* Peanuts and peanut butter contain over 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients.
* Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free.
For more fun facts, please visit: http://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/
