September 2023
National Peanut Day is celebrated September 13. Although Florida is best known for its citrus, peanuts are another popular commodity grown in the Sunshine State. Florida farmers harvested 554 million pounds of peanuts in 2022, making the state the third largest peanut producing state in the country. 
In Florida, peanuts are planted in the spring because of the ideal weather conditions. Unlike other nuts that grow on trees, peanuts grow underground. A special machine digs up the plants and flips it over so the peanuts can hang in the air to dry.
Most peanut farms in Florida are located in the panhandle and north Florida but can span as far south as the southern tip of the state. Peanuts are a member of the pea family and are a good source of protein, fiber and heart-healthy fats.
Learn about peanut farmers Ernest and Sarah Fulford with Fulford Family Farms in the fall issue of the Florida Farm & Family magazine.