News Briefs

“Premium Peanut is more than a company, we are a group of phenomenal people — from our grower owners to our employees to our board members,” Karl Zimmer says. “It has been an honor to partner with this great group of people in transforming an idea into an industry-leading peanut shelling and oil business.”

“On behalf of Premium Peanut’s board of directors, we want to express our sincere appreciation for Karl’s leadership over the last eight years and during the transition,” says Kent Fountain, Premium Peanut chairman. “Karl has built a strong leadership team, and his contributions to our ongoing success will be felt for years.”

The board will be initiating a search for the next CEO of Premium Peanut. Karl Zimmer and Kent Fountain will partner during the transition period to ensure Premium Peanut continues to deliver on its commitments until a new CEO is appointed.

Olam Announces Promotion

Olam Food Ingredients recently announced the promotion of Mike Davis to vice president of peanut shelling in the United States. Davis has been with OFI as senior sales director of pea- nut shelling since July 2019. He has been in the peanut industry for more than 35 years, holding various roles in sales, marketing and procurement in the food manufacturing segment.

Davis assumes all leadership responsibility for facilities in Rochelle and Smithville, Georgia; Samson, Alabama; and the buying points.

Georgia Peanut Commission Celebrates Peanut Month

March — National Peanut Month — is a time to celebrate America’s favorite food! The Georgia peanut industry kicked off the celebration by hosting the 2023 Georgia PB&J Day at the state capitol. During the event, the Georgia Peanut Commission and Peanut Proud donated peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Peanuts and peanut butter were promoted during the event by industry partners serving grilled PB&Js, country-fried peanuts, peanut candy and more. Governor Brian Kemp presented a proclamation recognizing March as National Peanut Month while Sen. Russ Goodman, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and Rep. Robert Dickey,

National Peanut Month PB Donation

As part of the 2023 PB&J Day celebrating March as National Peanut Month at the state capital in Atlanta, peanut butter valued at $10,000 was presented to the Atlanta Community Food Bank by the Georgia Peanut Commission and Peanut Proud. The food bank provides food and grocery products to more than 700 nonprofit partner agencies with hunger relief programs throughout 29 counties in metro Atlanta and north Georgia. According to Ben Burgess, corporate relations manager with the food bank, the need for food assistance is not going away.

“A recent study of our service area showed that an average of 200,000 food-insecure households are served each month through the Atlanta Community Food Bank partner agency network. Peanut butter is a very nutritious and important product to those clients because it has a stable shelf life,” Burgess says. “One jar can make several chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee presented resolutions recognizing the importance of Georgia’s peanut industry.

“Peanuts are Georgia’s official state crop, and the state boasts the largest share of peanut production in the U.S. at nearly 52% for the 2022 crop,” says Joe Boddiford, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Georgia’s 4,000 peanut farmers contribute approximately $2 billion annually to the state and local economy.”

Sponsors and exhibitors include the Georgia Peanut Commission, Kroger, Georgia Agribusiness Council, Georgia Farm Bureau, Peanut Proud, Atlanta Community Food Bank and the University of Georgia Peanut Team.

President Carter Still Influencing The World

In late February, the Carter Center announced that former President Jimmy Carter, also a former peanut farmer, was in Hospice care and would spend his remaining time at home with his family.

The Carter Center, with the Carter Presidential Library, has been the former president’s headquarters for his writing, peacemaking and public health efforts meals for a family or individual in need. This donation will help the nearly 10% of Georgian residents and the one in seven children who are food insecure in the state.”

Coincidentally, March is National Nutrition Month – a great time to recognize the nutritional value of peanuts. One serving of peanuts is a good source of protein, vitamin E, niacin, folate, phosphorus and magnesium. Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat.