Domestic peanut consumption continues an upward trend; peanut exports are inching up; and growers are seeing good contracts this spring as they prepare for planting.
“The Oklahoma peanut industry is looking up,” said Ron Sholar, executive director of the Oklahoma Peanut Commission, Stillwater, Okla., in opening remarks at the Oklahoma Peanut Expo, a virtual event this year due to COVID-19 precautions.
Sholar, along with Bob Parker, president and CEO,
National Peanut Board, Atlanta, Ga., and Marshall Lamb, senior scientist,
National Peanut Research Laboratory, Dawson, Ga., discussed the opportunities and challenges for Oklahoma and U.S. peanuts.
Sholar said the industry faces challenges but also sees a lot of good news. “Peanut consumption is up,” he said. “The pandemic is part of the reason; peanuts provide a natural choice for nutrition during the shutdown.” He added that the popularity of peanut products, especially peanut butter, preceded the pandemic. “Peanut