News & Information

Scholarship Applications Due July 1, 2012
The Florida Peanut Producers Association recently set July 1 as the deadline to apply for the 2012 Scholarship Award Program. Two $1,200 scholarships will be awarded to deserving high school seniors and/or college students.

The applicant or someone in the applicant’s family must be an actively producing peanut grower, not necessarily a member of the FPPA. It is the intent of the Scholarship Award Committee, however, that the award recipients attend a Florida junior college or four-year university.

Each winner will receive $600 when the scholarship winners are announced. The remaining $600 will be awarded after the completion of one semester and documentation of passing grades is submitted to the FPPA Office.

“The Florida Peanut Producers Association is committed to helping further the education of young people in Florida and the scholarship program is evidence our our committment,” says Ken Barton, executive director of the FPPA. “ The FPPA welcomes all applicants. The final selection will be made by the committee and all applicants will be notified by mail, as will the scholarship winners.”

For an application contact the FPPA office at 2741 Penn Avenue, Suite 1, Marianna, FL 32448 or call (850) 526-2590.

Download Scholarship Application [MS Word] or [PDF Document]

Alabama/Florida Peanut Trade Show set for Feb. 10, 2011
Peanut growers in the tri-states area will have the opportunity to see the latest advances in peanut growing, harvesting and other related equipment at the Alabama/Florida Peanut Trade Show which will be held at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan, Al on Thursday February 10.
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Florida Peanut Producers Association seeks National Peanut Board nominees
The Florida Peanut Producers Association is seeking eligible peanut producers to come forward who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board.
Florida Peanut Producers will hold a nominations election to select a member and
alternate to the National Peanut Board (NPB) during the Florida Peanut Producers
Association Annual Membership Meeting on February 24, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. (cst) at the
Jackson County Agricultural Complex on Penn Avenue in Marianna, FL. All eligible producers are encouraged to participate.
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FPPA awards scholarships
The Florida Peanut Producers Association Scholarship Committee recently selected four winners for the 2010 scholarship program. All applicants were judged on academic achievement, extracurricular activities and personal agricultural experience. This year’s winners are, Dustin Davis, Chipley; Rett Daniels, Sneads; Liza Johnson, Graceville and Kayla Toole, Grand Ridge, Fla.

“While all scholarship applications submitted this year were very good, these four winners were outstanding.” says Ken Barton, FPPA executive director. “Not only in their academic achievement, but in community involvement and each play a vital role in the success of their family’s farm.”

Congratulations to the 2010 FPPA scholarship winners.
Ford attends 2010 Farm to Fuel Summit
Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Charles Bronson hosted the 2010 “Farm to Fuel” Summit in Orlando to bring together hundreds of industry leaders in agriculture, energy, academia and government who want to make Florida a leader in the production of renewable energy.

“Florida has the greatest potential for biomass production in the country, and the technology exists to convert our natural resources to clean, renewable energy,” Bronson says. “This event brought together all the stakeholders so we can continue working toward the goal of reducing our dependence on foreign oil while at the same time providing another source of income for our farmers.”

Highlights of the summit include more than 40 speakers and 50 exhibitors and approximately 500 attendees. Attendees of this year’s summit heard about various feedstocks and technologies for renewable energy production, challenges relating to project financing, permitting and infrastructure, and state and federal energy policy.

Florida Peanut Producers Association President, Larry Ford attended the summit. “I am excited about the possibility of producing a biomass crop that will fit well in a peanut rotation and increase the efficiency and profitability of my farm,” Ford says. “However, I realize that to improve the technology and to have the production facilities in place to produce renewable energy on a commercial scale is no small task.”

For more information visit www.floridafarmtofuel.com.
Southern Peanut Growers Conference - July 12-14, 2009
The 11th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference officially kicked off Sunday, July 12. A blog has been developed that highlights all events from the conference. Check it out at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. The blog features speaker interviews, photos and much more.
"A Journey Through Time" Peanut Print now available
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But with the recent unveiling of a new peanut print entitled, “A Journey Through Time,” a thousand words will only begin to describe the history and modern times depicted in this colorful print commissioned by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation (SPFF) and painted by artist Jack Deloney. The SPFF consists of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, the Florida Peanut Producers Association, the Georgia Peanut Commission and the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association.

“With this year being the tenth anniversary of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, we (SPFF) decided to do something unique about peanut production,” explains Randy Griggs, executive director of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. “And this print certainly helps us appreciate how the peanut industry has progressed in it’s agriculture endeavors and moved forward in a positive direction.”

“A Journey Through Time” is just what it states. An overview of the development and evolution of one of America’s favorite foods – peanuts! The top portion of the painting allows you to step back in time and acquaint yourself with peanut production as it was back in the early 1900’s. Peanut production was labor intensive until peanut pickers arrived on the scene that would crawl down the row and pick up the dry peanut vines.

The bottom portion of the painting gives you a look at peanut production during the early days of mechanization in the industry. It was a time when fourteen foot wagons came on the scene and allowed artificial drying which greatly improved the quality of the crop. The larger, center portion of the painting gives you a current view of how peanut production is today from the field all the way to the shelling plant.

“Not only has our peanut production area expanded, today we have technology that continues to make peanuts a viable crop,” says Carl Sanders, president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. “And we are extremely proud to be a part of such a prestigious piece of artwork that shows the techniques we use in order to continue to produce the best quality peanuts in the world.”

“What makes this painting different is the accuracy and amount of detail that was necessary to show the progress of the industry,” said artist Jack Deloney.

There are only 500 prints available of “A Journey Through Time.” By making a minimum donation of $110 per print to the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, you too can have this beautiful display of history for your own.

To place an order, download the order form.
FPPA helps celebrate National Blood Donors Month
Florida Peanut Producers Association has partnered with Southeastern Community Blood Center to honor donors during January, National Blood Donors Month. Anyone who donating blood during the month of January received a package of FRESH FROM FLORIDA PEANUTS compliments of Florida’s peanut farmers and Florida Peanut Producers Association.
“ The partnership with Florida Peanut Producers is a perfect fit because of the health and nutritional benefits of peanuts,” says Schelly Giraldo, Marianna branch manager of the Southeastern Community Blood Center. “I can’t think of a better snack for our donors to enjoy while donating at one of the Blood Centers or our Blood Mobile. We extend a kind thank you to FPPA for helping honor our donors while Giving The Gift of Life.”
Southeastern Community Blood Centers supplies blood to 26 Southeastern counties.
Ken Barton, executive director of the FPPA says, “the opportunity to partner with Southeastern Community Blood Center has worked very well during National Blood Donor Month, so well in fact, that we have decided to extend the program through March to help celebrate National Peanut Month.”
Ford reappointed to Peanut Standards Board
The 2002 Farm Bill provided for the establishment of the Peanut Standards Board and directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to consult with the board before establishing or changing quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts.
The Peanut Standards Board consists of 18 members with equal representation by peanut producers and peanut industry representatives. Three producers and three industry representatives are appointed from each of three regions, the Southeast, Southwest, and the VC peanut producing regions. The Secretary of Agriculture recently appointed Larry Ford of Greenwood, Fla., to serve as the producer representative from Florida. Ford’s term will end in 2010.

Peanut Team participates in the Jackson County March of Dimes WalkAmerica
The Florida Peanut Producers Association promoted the nutritious benefits of eating peanuts during the March of Dimes WalkAmerica event in Marianna, Fla. During the walk, FPPA distributed peanuts and water to walkers and helped children at an activity table. The children were able to color and create peanut crafts at the activity table. Mr. Peanut was on hand to cheer on walkers. FPPA and all of the walk teams helped raise $28,000 for the March of Dimes. 

Peanut Field Day at West Florida Research and Education Center
Henry Lowery and Allen Edwards, Jay area farmers discuss the farm bill with Ken Barton FPPA executive director, at the West Florida Research and Education Center Field Day. During the field day Barry Brecke and Barry Tillman discussed peanut disease pressure and new peanut varieties.
Syngenta Peanut Leadership Class meets in Lubbock, Texas
Jaime Ayers, farm manager at the J. Leek Research Farm in Brownfield, Texas, shares research data with some of the Syngenta Peanut Leadership Class. Left to right are Ayers, Steve Yoder, Fla., Frank Moore, Syngenta, and Scott Saucer, Ala.
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