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Americans eat an average of about 6 pounds of peanuts per person, per year, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most of our peanuts come from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and South Carolina. Almost half of the U.S. peanut crop is used to make peanut butter. It is no surprise that peanut butter is one of America’s favorite foods!

Peanut butter was first created by blending together ground shelled peanuts, vegetable oil and salt. The peanuts are first shelled, then roasted and the skins removed. Then they are ground into a smooth butter spread. Peanut butter must be at least 90 percent peanuts with no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives to officially be labeled peanut butter. Did you know that it takes nearly 850 peanuts to make a jar of peanut butter?

If you like peanut better you will also like to learn that there are many health benefits associated with peanuts. The fat in peanuts is necessary to help maintain a healthy immune system; a natural anti-inflammatory function to fight disease and infection. Peanuts are also a source of protein, and they offer all kinds of essential vitamins and minerals. Recent findings show that eating peanuts, or peanut butter, can reduce the risk of heart attacks and type 2 diabetes.

Who invented peanut butter? Some speculate that peanut butter was first introduced in the United States in 1890, when a St. Louis physician invented peanut butter to provide his patients with an easy-to-digest, high protein food. Others still believe it to be the ‘father of the peanut industry’, George Washington Carver who invented more than 300 uses for peanuts.

How are you going to celebrate National Peanut Month?