National Peanut Month

National Peanut MonthMarch is National Peanut month. National Peanut Month had its beginnings as National Peanut Week in 1941, but later morphed into a month-long celebration in 1974.   Peanuts are not a nut, but are rather in the bean family.

Peanut cultivation and popularity in American food can be attributed to Dr. George Washington Carver, nicknamed “The Father of the Peanut” for his tireless devotion to this versatile legume.  In fact, in 1925, Carver published a bulletin called, “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption.”

Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and rumor has it that there’s enough mental stimulation in one peanut to give a person 30 minutes of serious thinking! Need a brain recharge, eat a peanut. Even it that is not the case, peanuts provide a source of protein and B vitamins to help prevent “brain fatigue.”  So keep a bag nearby for that extra boost.

Fun peanut facts:

It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounze jar of peanut butter.

The average peanut farm is 100 acres.

Astronaut Alan Shepard brought a peanut with him to the moon.

People living on the East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while those on the West Coast prefer the crunchy style.

Two peanut farmers have been elected President of the USA – Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.