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All Departments Administration Corrections Development Services Facilities Management Human Resources Information Technology Library Services Management and Budget Services Natural Resources Management Neighborhood and Human Services Parks and Recreation Public Safety Public Works Veterans Services Waste ServicesEscambia 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, or 43,258 ounces.
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, 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."
Peanut butter is an ever-popular item in food pantries because of its nutrient density and shelf stability. The Peanut Butter Challenge took on new meaning in 2020 as it spread statewide for the first time as demand for food bank assistance had increased as an economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest numbers from the United States Department of Agriculture show food insecurity affected roughly 12 percent of Floridians in 2023.
In addition to the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association and Florida Peanut Federation have partnered with the project for years. These organizations are based in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of the state and will again contribute to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions.
Follow along at Escambia County Extension's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. More information about the Peanut Butter Challenge can be found at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/peanutbutter.
UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension staff with Peanut Butter Challenge donations
About UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human, and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
The mission of Escambia County government is to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs and promote a safe and healthy community.
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