LETTER: Support Ga. farmers, eat a peanut butter sandwich

The peanut butter affected by the recall was sold in bulk by PCA to other food manufacturers who used the peanut butter in their food products. Many companies did have to recall products that contained PCA peanut butter, but the good news is, according to the National Peanut Board, PCA is estimated to have produced less than three percent of all peanuts and peanut butter sold in the United States each year. This means there are many peanut products not affected by the recall that are safe to eat.

Peanuts are grown in 80 Georgia counties. Georgia farmers grow almost half of the peanuts produced in the U.S. More than 50,000 jobs in Georgia exist because of our peanut industry according to the University of Georgia. These jobs include farmers, people who work in peanut-related agribusinesses such as shelling plants, factories that roast peanuts or make peanut products. The farm gate value of the 2007 peanut crop was almost $382 million. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the Georgia peanut than to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or some roasted peanuts. We appreciate your support of Georgia agriculture and Georgia farmers.

Sincerely,

Terry Stephenson

President, Madison County Farm Bureau