In This article, we are going to read about how peanuts are produced in the USA. The production of peanuts is very connected to its marketing. A marketing business that is very important and commonly known throughout the world. The peanut is an important food crop commonly grown in the tropics and the peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in warmer temperate regions. Although peanuts were first grown in South America, peanuts are now grown all over the world. The term "peanut" is misleading as botanically it is a legume and not a true nut. In many English-speaking countries, peanuts are also known as peanuts because the edible peanut seeds grow above the ground but ripen below. The two countries that produce the most peanuts are China and India, which are also of major regional importance in the Americas, numerous countries in eastern and southern Africa, and western Africa. In some parts of the world, peanuts can be an important source of nutrients, including protein and oil, although they are not a staple for most consumers. Used in whole nut snacks, in confectionery and sauces for other foods, and in peanut butter and butter.
Where in the world are peanuts grown? Peanuts are grown in regions with warm climates such as Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America. As of 2019, approximately 2% of the world's peanut acres are grown in the United States, but due to higher yields per acre, the country has grown nearly 5% of the world's crop. The main growing countries for peanuts are China, India, Nigeria, Sudan, Burma, Argentina and Senegal. About 45 million tons of peanuts are produced worldwide every year. The United States is the fourth largest producer in the world after China, India and Nigeria. About 3.6 million tons of peanuts are exported worldwide, with the US ranking fourth after Argentina, China and India. American export The United States exports about 500,000 tons of peanuts annually, valued at over $675 million, making it one of the world's top exporters of the crop. Exports in 2019 doubled compared to 2012. Recently, American peanut farmers have improved their productivity and efficiency, which has lowered the cost of their products on the world market. Canada was the top foreign buyer of U.S. peanuts in 2019, paying over $179 million for it, followed by Mexico, which paid over $142 million, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service. Exports to the European Union, China, Japan and other countries were aided by the United States' reputation for producing high-quality goods at low prices.
Peanut Production
By the end of the American Civil War production of peanuts was considered a Southern staple, but as technology advanced, demands for peanut productions such as peanut butter, roasted and salted peanuts, and confectionery increased. In addition, the eminent scientist George Washington Carver proposed planting peanuts as a crop rotation for cotton production, which increased acreage in the early 20th century and developed a number of non-food industrial uses for peanuts and plant components. Currently, the three major geographic regions of the United States in which peanut production is concentrated are the Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina), the Southwest (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas), and Virginia and North Carolina. Research has shown that peanuts can be grown effectively in more northerly states with the right choice of variety, but due to the short growing season, yields are often low and production risky (too few growing degree days). In 2021, the United States produced a total of 6.4 billion pounds of peanuts on 1.59 million acres. In 2021, the average production per acre was 4,135 pounds. (NASS 2022). Four varieties of marketable peanuts are grown in the United States for export: early, Spanish, Virginia, and Valencian. The most common commercial peanut variety is the runner variety, which is primarily used for peanut butter production. 80 percent of the country's cultivated area is of this type, mainly in the southeast. 15% of the US crop comes from the Virginia variety, grown primarily in Virginia and North Carolina for high-quality snack foods.
Often grown in Oklahoma and Texas, Spanish peanuts are considered to have the most distinctive nutty flavor of any commercially produced peanut due to their higher oil content. They make up about 4% of the country's total harvest. About one percent of the crop is the Valencia peanut, which is grown almost exclusively in New Mexico. Typically, these peanuts are roasted, sold in their shell, and used to make natural peanut butter. Well-drained soils are best for growing peanuts as they produce more. They can thrive in sandy soil if there is adequate irrigation or rainfall. It is highly recommended to plant one or more plants between each peanut harvest. There are notable yield benefits from longer crop rotations and avoiding soybeans, as soybeans can cause serious diseases that affect peanuts. The most important point to avoid water stress in irrigated peanut cultivation is the mid-season ripening period. During this time, stress can have a significant negative impact on yields, and this is when the plant uses the most water. At the beginning of the growing season and during the ripening of peanuts, watering is usually not recommended. An integrated pest management program is recommended to control the many pests and diseases that affect peanut production to save costs and control the development of pest resistance to the pesticides used. An effective integrated management program must include crop rotation, variety selection and thorough scouting. The results of variety testing conducted by government growing programs can be a useful tool for selecting high-yielding, pest- and disease-resistant varieties. Because harvest time can affect both yield and quality, peanuts should be carefully monitored for doneness. Before pooling, the peanuts are first harvested and allowed to dry, ideally to around 10% moisture.
Peanut Marketing
The Marketing for this Product is very huge throughout the world and peanut productions have a lot of fans that use this product throughout the day. In this part we are going to read about some of this product marketing brands. Peanuts grown in America are used to make peanut butter, peanut butter, confectionery, and food. About 60% of the peanut harvest is used to make peanut butter. The harvest is crushed into oil at a rate of 15%, making side dishes and flour. Smoked peanuts Roasted peanuts are kept in their shells. In addition to being a popular snack at baseball games, roasted peanuts can be used to make nut mixes, candies (like peanut crumbs), confectionery, and foods coated with honey, chili, or other flavors (cookies, ice cream). Roasted peanuts are sometimes exported. Peanut processor Raw peanuts are processed for use in the food industry. Peanuts are sorted according to taste, size or variety. These processed peanuts are used by food companies to make peanut butter, peanut candy, and peanut snacks. Some food manufacturers that have their own processing facilities purchase raw peanuts directly for processing and use in their peanut-based products. Coconut oil To obtain peanut butter, raw peanuts are crushed. Peanut butter has a high smoke point and doesn't absorb food odors. This is the frying oil favored by many restaurants.
For salad dressings, roasting vegetables, and other applications that require a flavorful yet nutritious oil, unrefined peanut butter is a popular option. Because of its high monounsaturated fat content, peanut butter is considered a heart-healthy fat. If a person is allergic to peanuts, refined peanut butter is not dangerous. Peanut flour Ground peanuts are used to make peanut flour, which may or may not be fully defatted. Gluten-free flour is also a fantastic source of protein. Flour can be used to coat meat and fish, thicken soups, strengthen bread and pastries, and coat other foods. It can also be used to make peanut butter powder. Biodiesel Compared to other oilseeds, peanuts have a high oil content (45 to 52 percent). Theoretically, peanuts can yield 120 to 150 gallons of biodiesel per acre at a yield of 3,000 pounds per acre, grade 70 (70 percent peanut weight in shell) and 50 percent oil. However, growers can produce 3,500-4,500 pounds of peanuts per acre using effective management practices; This allows even more biodiesel to be produced per acre. With a yield of 48 gallons per acre, peanuts produce much more oil than soybeans but less oil than canola, which yields 127 to 160 gallons per acre. However, using high quality peanuts as biodiesel may not be the most viable market given the high cost of growing peanuts and high market demand for traditional uses. Steamed Peanuts Fresh "green" (not dried) peanuts are used to make cooked peanuts, a popular snack made in a tiny but potentially very lucrative market. In much of the South, cooked peanuts are a popular snack (the predominant peanut-growing region).
Therefore, selling fresh peanuts online as a specialty product to other regions can add value to the intensively grown peanut crop. However, Southerners who have moved from the area and new consumers are curious to try boiled peanuts. Fresh peanuts cannot be stored for more than 10-14 days due to their high moisture content, so they are typically sold in supermarkets, street stalls and/or farmers' markets. Fresh peanuts are less commonly sold by online sellers, who typically require two-day delivery due to their perishable nature. The crop is usually hand-picked because consumers who buy fresh peanuts love the shiny shell with little to no damage. When farmers advertise their peanut crop as “fresh,” extensive and careful planning is required. Before they start growing their crops, they need to find a target market. With the exception of the harvest and post-harvest methods used, the production of fresh peanuts on the market is almost identical to that of other peanut crops. When buying fresh peanuts, customers often prefer the Valencia and Virginia varieties because of their taste and size. We in our company are happy and honored to be a part of this worldwide business. We ship and work with all the trusted companies and entrepreneurs throughout the world.