Five Fun Facts About Growing Peanuts

Whether the temperature around you is getting warmer or you’re experiencing the final gusts of winter, we can all agree nature is fascinating. The earth contributes to our everyday lives in all its manifestations and seasons. Wherever you might be, there is much to celebrate in agriculture and all the wonderful things nature gives us. National Agriculture Day is today, and we are excited to celebrate the crops that provide us with our favorite snack: peanuts. So below, we’ve put together five fun facts about growing peanuts!

Peanuts keep surprising us both in flavor and profile! Although for research and culinary purposes they are considered nuts, peanuts are actually a legume. The legume family is nutritious and includes over 20,000 species of flowering plants. Regardless of what they are, we are nuts for peanuts!

2. Peanuts Are Naturally Sustainable

Sustainability inspires the farming industry to adopt practices that reduce its carbon footprint. Luckily, with peanuts, our job becomes easier because of their naturally sustainable profiles. While research in seed breeding has played a significant role in cultivating sustainable peanuts, no part of the peanut produces waste and all of it can be used to help crops, fuel and other industries. When enjoying this delicious treat, you can rest assured that every part of the peanut helps the environment in diverse ways — from animal feed to enhancing soil.

3. Peanuts Are Water Efficient

Did you know peanuts have the smallest water footprint of all the major nuts? Peanuts only take approximately 3.2 gallons of water to produce per ounce because of their composition. Plants conserve more water by having a low transpiration rate and adjusting their moisture release as the soil surrounding them becomes dry.

4. Peanuts Are One of the Biggest Crops in the United States

Peanuts are consumed in the United States for a wide range of reasons. From sporting events to healthy diets, this snack is a beloved favorite of many Americans. So, it is no surprise that the demand for peanuts in the U.S reflects the quantity the farming industry produces. With a farm value of more than $1 billion, peanuts are the seventh-largest crop in the United States.

5. Hampton Farms Only Grows Non-GMO Foods

Every year, the peanut farming industry reduces its carbon footprint and removes harmful chemicals from peanut crops. With peanuts’ mass appeal, we know how important it is to keep peanuts free of toxic chemicals that affect the consumer and the planet. Hampton Farms leads the way in non-harmful practices to deliver the highest quality nuts and cultivates only non-GMO foods in our fields.

Hampton Farms has been the leading supplier of the freshest, best quality peanuts from seed to shelf since 1917. Our business is family-owned and operated, and we are committed to producing the finest nut-based snacks and services with integrity, honesty and the pride of American farmers. If you're looking for a locally grown, nutritious and delicious snack, purchase some Hampton Farms nuts today!