The Peanut Podcast

We’re a quarter of the way through 2024 and exciting things in marketing are already happening. At NPB, we’re launching a long-term creative campaign called We the Peanut and we have a new chief marketing officer on board. Also state groups are finding fresh ways to connect with consumers. In this episode, we’ll delve into 2024 marketing trends and speak with Ginny Lewis of Golin, Dena Malsom of NPB and Ashley Collins of North Carolina Peanut Growers Association.  

As unique as each crop year, every peanut grower has a noteworthy story to tell about their journey to farming and agriculture. Back by popular demand, we’re sharing a second round of our How I Got Here series. In this episode, we hear from Florida peanut farmer Mikaela Massey about her family’s support of her involvement and learning on the farm; Executive Director of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association Caitlin Joyner on navigating to agricultural leadership through Future Farmers of America; and National Peanut Board member from Oklahoma Mark DeLeon on his remarkable journey as a first-generation farmer and youngest of 14. Sources2022 Census of Agriculture Highlights: Farm Producers Family-Owned Farms Account for 96% of U.S. Farms, According to the Census of Agriculture Technology Report: Small Family Farms Make Up 88% of All U.S. Farms

The National Peanut Board is in new yet familiar leadership hands. Former senior vice president and chief marketing officer Ryan Lepicier is the new president and CEO of the National Peanut Board as of January 1, 2024. In this episode, Lepicier shares his vision for the future of NPB and his passion for the industry. We talk with guests involved in the hiring process and industry members excited about what Lepicier will bring at the helm of NPB, including NPB Chairman Greg Baltz, Georgia board member Casey Cox Kerr, executive search consultant Garland West, and Crazy Richards owner Kimmi Wernli.

In 2012, the National Peanut Board hired Bob Parker to become the Board’s second president and CEO. Parker grew up on a peanut farm, worked for Golden Peanut Company and had close to 40 years of experience. While some may have initially been hesitant that a former sheller could have the best interests of farmers at heart, Bob’s integrity and strong relationships across sectors showed that he absolutely did. As we approach the end of Bob's 11 year-tenure at NPB, we highlight his key accomplishments and future thoughts, talk to colleagues who have become true friends and share insights into choosing a successor. This episode features interviews with Parker; food allergy advocate Mary Jane Marchisotto; American Peanut Council Vice President and European Marketing Director Louise McKercher; NPB Chairman and Virginia peanut grower Paul Rogers; and executive search consultant Garland West.

Mexico is known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant traditions and delicious cuisine. The country has also recently established itself as the top export market for U.S. peanuts. In this episode, we explore the work the American Peanut Council has done to nurture this market, the popularity and uses of the peanut in Mexico (and the potential for peanut butter) and what characteristics of peanuts matter to Mexican buyers and consumers. Guests are the American Peanut Council’s (APC) Peter Vlazakis, Mónica Moreno Arellano from Grupo PM, dietitian Esther Schiffman and Evelyn Lopez from Hormel.

Peanut production in the US is skyrocketing. Ten years ago, US peanut farmers produced a two-million-ton crop. Today it’s three million. In ten more years, it will likely be four million. Putting future peanut crops to good use will take innovative approaches and requires attention now to set farmers and the industry up for success. In this episode, we’ll learn about promising areas of innovation—like peanuts’ benefits for poultry and egg production, high-oleic and high oil content peanuts and even peanuts as alternatives for gluten and dairy in food products—to push this crop into new frontiers and keep peanut farming profitable.  We speak with Dr. Nino Brown of the University of Georgia, Dr. Marshall Lamb from the National Peanut Research Lab, Texas peanut grower Larry Don Womack and Stephen Richards of Better Body Foods.  Show NotesThe American Pecan Council is the marketing order that authorizes data collection; research and promotion activities; and regulation of grade, size, quality, pack and containers for pecans. Pecans have 3g of plant-based proteinYou can find the nutrition label for PBFit here and PB Fit Peanut Flour Baking Blend here.See more about Peanut Nutrition here.

Whether today’s farmers come from a multi-generational line of growers or they're the first generation to be called to agriculture, those paths are filled with twists and turns, challenges, redemption and kindness. In this episode, we’re sharing compelling stories from the peanut grower community that open up new opportunities, possibilities and appreciation in agriculture. Featured peanut farmer guests on this episode are Karla Thompson of Georgia, Jan Jones of Georgia and Lonnie Fortner of Mississippi. Sources: Whitt, C., Todd, J. E., & MacDonald, J. M. (2020, December). America’s diverse family farms: 2020 edition. USDA ERS. https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=100011  

Description: PB&Js have been a school lunch staple for generations—and at most schools they still are. The star ingredient, peanut butter, is nutritious, affordable, shelf stable and tasty. But food allergy concerns are a barrier to schools using more peanuts. Tapping into our recent Summer School Nutrition Summit, we’ll discuss the latest trends, what's on the minds of school nutrition leaders and how schools can serve peanuts while keeping students with allergies safe. We’ll hear from Amy Carroll of Lee County, FL Schools whose district brought peanut butter back to the menu after almost 20 years, Marlon Gordon of Nxt Gen Network, child nutrition chef Rebecca Polson, Leslie Wagner of Southern Peanut Growers and Texas peanut grower Lexi Floyd. For more resources on Peanuts in Schools: PeanutsinSchools.org Bringing Back the Peanut: Peanut Allergy Community Guide  https://peanutbutterlovers.com/about-spg/   National Peanut Board School Recipes  Instead of Peanut Free Be Allergen Aware Guidelines on Managing Food Allergies in Schools School Nutrition Association Food Allergy Resource Center  For articles on peanuts in schools: School Nutrition Pros Now Have a Peanut Power Toolkit  Plan, Don’t Ban article from School Nutrition Magazine How to be Fearless About Food Allergies in Schools Making School Breakfast Cool (and Safer): Adopting Top Trends & Managing Food Allergens  Peanuts in Schools: How Peanuts Can Help Meet Today’s Challenges and Why They Belong on K-12 Menus  How Peanuts can fit in School Nutrition  Making Healthy Choices in the School Lunch Line  School Recipes that Deliver on Taste and Nutrition  Sources: Wang J., B. T. (2018). The Allergist's Role in Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Management in the School and Childcare Setting. JACI-In Practice, 427-435.  CDC: Managing Food Allergies in School 

 Farmers put their livelihoods on the line with each crop they plant, tend to and harvest. Now imagine 40% of that crop going into the trash instead of feeding hungry people. That’s the unfortunate situation we’re in with food waste in the US. But there’s a push from multiple sectors to get the most out of every ounce of nutritious food American farmers grow. We’ll explore the issue of food waste and how peanuts are part of the solution on the farm and on the plate through conversations with Valeri Lea of Sherman Moritz, Daniel Kurzrock of Upcycled Foods, Joanne Gendrano of Unilever Food Solutions and Alabama peanut farmer Thomas Adams.Show Notes: To learn more about food waste and what we’ve talked about on today’s episode:Upcycled Foods Inc.: upcycledfoods.com USDA Food Waste FAQ’s: usda.gov 5 Tips to Go Further with Food: Reduce Food Waste: 5 Tips 3 Creative Ideas to Tackle Food Waste: 3 Creative Ideas Naming Matters: Prompting Smaller Portions in an Online RCT: ajpmonline.org To learn more about peanuts and sustainability: Peanuts and Sustainability FAQs: FAQ The Peanut Podcast Episode 2: The New Frontier of Sustainability: Episode 2 Sustainable Snack Swaps: Snack SwapsEven Mother Earth Loves Peanuts: Mother Earth 3 Fast Facts About Peanuts and the Environment: Fast Facts Peanuts Are the Crop of Now: Crop of Now Plastic Straws and Peanut Seeds: Think Small for Big Impact: Straws & Seeds New Data Confirms Peanuts are More Water Efficient Than Ever: Peanuts and water  Sources:Feeding America – Food Waste and Food Rescue: feedingamerica.org Feed The Future’s Commitment to Reducing Food Loss and Waste: feedingamerica.org Datassential – 2022 Trends Part I | 01.06.22: datassential.com EPA – 2019 Wasted Food Report: epa.gov Whole Foods Market Forecasts Top 10 Food Trends for 2021: media.wholefoodsmarket.com7 Food Waste Statistics Every Chef Should Know: blog.cambro.com

With the few months of 2023 behind us, it’s time to look into what’s working and what’s on the horizon in marketing. Are Gen Z and millennials still the darlings of marketing? How are brands and organizations reaching them, and what can the peanut industry learn? How do exports play into marketing trends? We’ll find these answers with perspectives from Caroline Coyle from Golin, Radhika Murari from OmMade peanut butter, Shelly Nutt from the Texas Peanut Producers Board and food trend expert Skye Estroff.    Music Attribution:It Looks Like The Future, But It Feels Like The Past by Doctor Turtle is licensed under a Attribution License.

 It’s a hot time for health. For the first time in almost 30 years, the FDA is planning to update its definition of healthy. In the nutrition community, there’s a movement to consider more factors, like age, lifestyle and culture, when recommending food choices. Consumers are considering health more holistically—not just as the food we eat but also our physical and mental wellbeing. We’ll explore how our thinking about “healthy” has evolved and what it means for peanuts and peanut butter through conversations with NPB dietitians Markita Lewis, Sherry Coleman Collins and foodservice dietitian Ann Dunaway Teh.  Show Notes:  Plan It, Don’t Ban It: https://schoolnutrition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MA23-Main4.pdf   To learn more about the FDA’s Rule Change: A Fresh Take on What “Healthy” Means on Food Packages  Use of the Term Healthy on Food Labeling   To learn more about how peanuts can fit in a healthy lifestyle:  Peanut Nutrition 101  All About Heart Health  Why Peanut Fit in Your Healthy Diet  Fight Hunger with Powerful Nutrition  Any Exercise is Better Than Nothing: The Power of a Little Movement  What Does Being "Healthy" Mean?  Snacking on Peanuts Everyday linked to Lower Risk of Stoke, Other Diseases, Study Show  Magnificent Magnesium  The Scoop on Hydrogenated Fat in Peanut Butter  The Peanut Institute   Sources: Shake-Up in the Diet Industry: Washington Post Article  Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Equity: https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/healthequity/index.html  Peanut Nutrition 101: NPB: peanut-nutrition.htm KF Provkök launches the idea of basic food: https://web.archive.org/web/20110929023533/http://www.coop.se/Globala-sidor/OmKF/Kooperativ-samverkan/Var-historia1/Tidslinjen/1960-19901/1973/KF-Provkok-lanserar-iden-om-basmat/  

 Peanut oil may be best known as the oil of choice for frying that delicious Thanksgiving turkey or the classic Chick-fil-A sandwich. But changes in the marketplace, climate and economy are leading industry stakeholders to explore the possibility and opportunity of producing more peanut oil in the U.S. In this episode, we talk with National Peanut Board President & CEO Bob Parker, Texas A&M researcher Dr. John Cason and Executive Director of the Georgia Peanut Commission Don Koehler. Show Notes:  To learn more about Texas A&M’s work with Chevron: https://today.tamu.edu/2022/07/19/texas-am-agrilife-chevron-to-develop-diesel-nut/  Sources:  FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Advances the Future of Sustainable Fuels in American Aviation: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/09/fact-sheet-biden-administration-advances-the-future-of-sustainable-fuels-in-american-aviation/  Delta, DG Fuels partner in pivotal expansion of sustainable fuel market: https://news.delta.com/delta-dg-fuels-partner-pivotal-expansion-sustainable-fuel-market  Working for peanuts: collaboration aims to increase renewables, help farmers: https://www.chevron.com/newsroom/2022/q3/working-for-peanuts-collaboration-aims-to-increase-renewables-help-farmers  

George Washington Carver is known as the father of the peanut industry. He brought a new understanding of sustainable agriculture to the Southern U.S. to help farmers support their families and have a better life. In this episode, we go beyond the basics and explore Carver as a dynamic person who was a scientist, educator, artist, humanitarian and inspiration. This episode includes perspectives from Curtis Gregory from the George Washington Carver National Monument; Dr. John Beasley from Auburn University; and Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller from Tuskegee University. Show Notes:  To learn more about the institutions mentioned in this show: George Washington Carver Monument: https://www.nps.gov/gwca/index.htm  Tuskegee University: https://www.tuskegee.edu/support-tu/george-washington-carver  To learn more about George Washington Carver or the topics mentioned: What You Didn’t Learn in School: George Washington Carver Wrote the Book on Sustainability: https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/news/what-you-didnt-learn-in-school-george-washington-carver-wrote-book-on-sustainability.htm  16 Surprising Facts about George Washington Carver: https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/news/16-surprising-facts-about-george-washington-carver.htm  George Washington Carver: A World-Famous Scientist, Inventor and Educator: https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/news/george-washington-carver.htm  To read the full release on Bob Parker’s Retirement: https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/news/national-peanut-board-president-and-ceo-bob-parker-announces-retirement-1.htm   Sources: George Washington Carver National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/places/george-washington-carver-national-monument.htm  George Washington Carver Arts and Crafts: https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/tuskegee/gwcarts.htm  The Jesup Wagon: Rooted in History, Still Used Today: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/business-community-urban/the-jesup-wagon-rooted-in-history-still-used-today/  

Show Notes: For resources mentioned in the show: ·       AgriSafe Resource Page ·       National Suicide Prevention Lifeline For more resources on mental health:·       MentalHealth.gov ·       Suicide Prevention Resource Center·       National Alliance on Mental Illness Sources:·       Maintaining Mental Health During the Holiday Season (And A Pandemic)·       The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on Agricultural SafetyAmerica's mental health care deserts: Where is it hard to access care? 

Show Notes:  To learn more about Virginia Carolinas Peanut Promotions, click here.  For more info on peanuts during the holidays:  The Ultimate Halloween Guide for Peanut & PB Lovers Peanut Butter Lover’s Guide to the Holidays 5 Gifts for Peanut Butter Lovers 9 Gifts for the Peanut/Peanut Butter Lover in Your Life 3 DIY Holiday Décor Ideas with Peanuts  Budget Friendly, DIY Holiday Décor with Peanuts   For some delicious holiday recipes:  The Cromley’s Peanut Pie Holiday Peanut Butter Cup Pie Peanut Brittle in the Microwave Smoky Peanut Brittle  7 New Holiday Recipes that are Sure to be a Hit Here’s How to Feed a Crowd for the Holidays Thanksgiving Sides and Sweets Tastes of the World to Share this Holiday Season  Sources: 2022 Favorite Halloween Candy  Shifting Holiday Plans: Desire for Food Gifting, Bigger Gatherings and Robust Food Spending Despite Food Inflation 7 Chinese New Year Snacks and Symbolism  Attributions:Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music  Dark FogAuld Lang Syne by United States Marine Band is licensed under a Public Domain Mark 1.0 License.

Show Notes: To learn more about the organizations mentioned on today’s podcast: ·       Project Peanut Butter·       Peanut Butter for the Hungry·       Peanut Proud ·       Edesia  To learn more about peanuts humanitarian relief and aid: ·       Stock the Shelves with Peanut Butter at Your Local Food Bank this Summer·       Here's a Unique and Fun Way to Help Your Local Food Bank·       Journey of a Peanut Butter Jar: Fighting Hunger and Saving Lives    Sources: ·       RUTF study 2004 https://adc.bmj.com/content/89/6/557.full·       RUTF study 2007 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2007.00095.x

Most of us know the basics of how peanuts grow—and that there’s no such thing as a peanut tree! But unless you’ve been able to spend a good amount of time with peanut growers across the U.S., you may not know much about the different challenges and practices growers face throughout the Peanut Belt. Diverse soil types, equipment, diseases, weather and more can impact peanut production. Show Notes:  To learn more about production across regions: Peanut County, U.S.A. Did You Know That There Are 4 Different Types of Peanuts?  For more information about KMC, visit a local KMC dealer or www.kelleymfg.com 

Innovation lights the fire for change and growth, and the peanut industry is ablaze! Today we highlight a few movers and shakers in the industry including a young farmer who’s growing organic peanuts and trying his hand at hemp; a Southwestern grower whose diversified operation won her family a peanut efficiency award; a third-generation family peanut business that’s exploring avenues like single-origin peanuts; a researcher who puts the peanut genome to work to make rapid improvements for growers; and a family who started a baby snack company to help prevent food allergies.   Featured in this episode are Sedrick Rowe, Georgia peanut grower; Lexi Floyd, Texas peanut grower; Marshall Rabil, director of sales and marketing at Hubs Peanuts; Peggy Ozias-Akins of UGA Tifton; and JJ Jaxon, founder of Mission Mighty Me. If you’d like to read more about these innovators: ·       Marshall Rabil - How a Third-Generation Entrepreneur Is Helping his Family’s Peanut Business Grow and Adapt for the Future·       Lexi Floyd - These 3 Young Women are Redefining What It Means to be a Farmer, and Shaping the Future of the Industry·       Mission MightyMe: Taking Aim at Peanut Allergy Prevention, Mission MightyMe Launches New Infant Food·       Peggy Ozias-Akins - In the Southeast, Public Breeding Program Supports Development of Diverse Cultivars to Benefit Growers & Protect Industry·       Peggy Ozias-Akins - Peanut Genomics Bring the Future Closer: Q&A with Dr. Corley Holbrook·       Sedrick Rowe – Part of Georgia’s inaugural group of licensed hemp growers, Sedrick Rowe hopes to inspire a new generation of young Black farmers

Everyone has their favorite food they like to pick up at the grocery store or order at a restaurant. There’s a lot to be said for the benefits of “the usual.” But for the food industry to stay primed for growth, it pays to keep a pulse on trends in dining out and eating at home. We’re talking about innovation in Mexican comfort foods like quesadillas, more hands-on experimentation in college dining, healthy eating in grocery stores and the demand for brands to share their “why.” Inspired by our 2022 Next Gen Food Summit, in this episode, we explore what’s happening and what’s next in food service and food at retail—and how peanuts can take advantage— through conversations with Cathy Nash Holley, publisher and editor-in-chief of Flavor and the Menu magazine; Lisa Zehr, director of organizational excellence at Cornell University Dining; Carol Podolak, co-founder of BNutty peanut butter company; Don Ladhoff, president of Fresh Smart Solutions; and peanut farmer Lonnie Fortner. If you’d like to read a recap of the Next Gen Food Summit: Top Trends from the Next Gen Food Summit Product Trend Watch: Consumers Embracing Store Brands For more resources on food trends:   Consumer Research Highlights America’s Love of Peanuts and Peanut Butter Focus on Flavor and Experience: Here are the Top Trends that Appeal to Gen Z Diners Food Trends: Peanuts and the Gen Z POV   Sources: Study: Most U.S. consumers to stick with eating at home post-pandemic Food & Grocery Retail Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Food Cupboard, Beverages), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets & Hypermarkets, Online), By Region (APAC, Europe), And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030 Music attribution:  Lake Victoria by Podington Bearhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/