Texas Peanut Harvest

Peanut harvest is in full swing in West Texas, and most peanut producers couldn't be happier to move on from 2009. The challenges of the year ranged anywhere from drought to a surplus in the market from last year's crop to a salmonella outbreak caused by one bad egg in the industry.

The 2008 harvest in Texas yielded over 860 million pounds of peanuts - the state's largest peanut harvest. The crop was valued at over $185 million, a reflection of the impact the Texas peanut industry has on the state's economy. According the the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Texas peanut farmers have produced 544 million pounds of peanuts to date in 2009. Fewer acres were planted this year to offset the surplus from last year's crop, and consequently, in response to the drop in demand from the salmonella scare at the beginning of the year.

The good news is the good reputation of the nation's peanut industry and its peanut products has helped restore consumer confidence, and sales of peanut butter are up dramatically since February of this year. Like this little rattlesnake found in one West Texas peanut farmer's field, one company's careless mistakes can not destroy an industry built on quality, honesty and safety.

The resilience of our farmers, processors, shellers and manufacturers have helped restore the industry. Former TPPB director Ted Higginbottom said it best when he said, "It’s unfortunate peanut growers in Texas can do everything right to produce a healthy and safe product to feed both their families and the nation, and then have to carry the burden for something they could not control." To read more about TPPB's communications during the salmonella outbreak, click here.

 

 

 

 

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