Runner Peanuts

The most widely consumed variety, Runner peanuts have delicious flavor, great roasting characteristics and high yields. This medium-sized peanut is an ideal choice for use in peanut butters. Runner peanuts are grown in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma due to their need for a warm climate and sandy, well-drained soil.

Spanish Peanuts

Spanish peanuts are used mostly in peanut candies, peanut snacks and peanut butter. This peanut is easily identified by its smaller kernels and its reddish-brown skin. It also has a high oil content, which makes it an excellent choice for extracting oil. Spanish peanuts are grown mostly in Texas and Oklahoma.

Valencia Peanuts

Valencia peanuts are a sweet peanut with a bright red skin. This peanut usually contains three or more kernels in a longer shell. Valencia peanuts are mostly served roasted and sold in-shell or boiled. While grown less frequently in the United States, its primary production region is in West Texas and New Mexico.

Virginia Peanuts

Often called “cocktail nuts,” Virginia peanuts are considered large-kernelled. Its size makes it great for processing, particularly for salting, confections and in-shell roasting. Virginia peanuts are primarily grown in Texas, southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

GROW YOUR PEANUT IQ WITH THESE FUN PEANUT FACTS.

  • Texas is the only state to grow all four varieties and organic peanuts!
  • Texas is the fourth largest peanut growing state in the nation!
  • Peanuts are not nuts. They are legumes like beans, peas and lentils.
  • The peanut plant originated in South America.
  • Peanuts account for two-thirds of all snack nuts consumed in the U.S.
  • One acre of peanuts will make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
  • Peanut butter is the leading use of peanuts in the U.S.
  • It takes almost 850 peanuts to make an 18 oz jar of peanut butter!
  • Two peanut farmers have been elected President of the United States: Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.
  • Americans eat 3 pounds of peanut butter per person every year. That’s about 700 million pounds, or enough to coat the floor of the Grand Canyon!
  • The average American child will eat 1,500 peanut butter sandwiches by the time he or she graduates from high school.
  • Peanut butter was the secret behind “Mr. Ed” – TV’s talking horse.
  • March is National Peanut Month!
  • November is National Peanut Butter Lovers’ Month!