Reports from the: Alabama Peanut Producers Association Florida Peanut Producers Association Georgia Peanut Commission Mississippi Peanut Growers Association
Alabama peanuts promoted at Food Service and Nutrition Expo The Alabama Peanut Producers Association provided the latest on peanut allergies and nutrition during exhibit hours at the Alabama Food Service and Nutrition Expo in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 16, 2018. “We made contact with nearly 400 professionals from the Alabama Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals, Alabama Dietetic Association, and Alabama School Nutrition Association in attendance,” says Kaye Lynn Hataway, project coordinator for Alabama Peanut Producers Association. “We shared new research on peanut allergies and the nutrition value of peanuts. In addition, visitors to our booth received Alabama roasted peanuts and peanut butter spreaders.”
Mississippi Diabetes Foundation Super Conference The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (MPGA) promoted peanuts recently at the Mississippi Diabetes Foundation Super Conference, March 3, 2018, in Jackson, Mississippi. This conference is held annually for those with diabetes to hear highly recognized specialists in the field of diabetic education, plus provide opportunity for the attendees to visit industry booths. Since MGPA has been an active sponsor of the diabetes walks for the past six years, MPGA was invited to have an educational booth and provide the Peanuts and Diabetes recipe brochure to participants. More than 300 individuals attended the conference. Many attendees visited the MPGA booth and asked questions ranging from how peanuts grow to why they were the diabetic’s best friend. Since the first walk in 2010 until now, MPGA has made some contact with about 20,000 participants in this program, hopefully getting them to see the value of peanut products in their life.
Mississippi peanuts promoted during National Peanut Month During March National Peanut Month, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association prepared peanut goody baskets for television stations throughout the state. This led to live interviews at four television stations by Malcolm Broome, MPGA executive director. The baskets were used as talking points since they contained all kinds of peanuts, peanut products and peanut facts. During the interviews, Broome offered samples of the new Elmhurst Milked PeanutsTM to the show host. Broome also discussed new information for parents on the introduction of peanut protein to infants at an early age. Two of the stations taped additional interview footage to be shown through the month of March. The value of these live interviews outweighs any advertising that MPGA could purchase on these television stations.
Mississippi peanuts promoted at school board association The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association exhibited at the Mississippi School Board Association Winter Conference, Feb. 19-21, 2018, in Jackson, Mississippi. The MSBA Annual Conference brings together approximately 450 school board members and education leaders from across the state to share information that shapes the future of students. This was the first time MPGA exhibited at this conference. MPGA provided sample of peanuts as well as nutritional information or peanuts and products for their use in the school system. Many of the school board members coming by the exhibit asked questions ranging from what the peanut growers’ association was doing at the conference to why should peanut butter be used in their children’s lunches. Malcolm Broome, MPGA executive director was able to provide a positive answer to these questions along with making sure the school board members had literature in their registration bags to support the use of peanuts. MPGA distributed literature from the Peanut Institute, National Peanut Board, and Southern Peanut Growers. Broome also handed out peanut butter spreaders to attendees which were a great conversation starter since most members were puzzled as to what the item was. As a result of this first conference, MPGA hopes it will open the door for more interaction between MPGA and schools in order to prevent future peanut bans from school systems in Mississippi.
April 2018 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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