March is National Peanut Month, and what started as a week-long
observance in 1941, became a full month in 1974 to celebrate its
role in our culture, health benefits and use in cookery.
Primarily grown in the tropics and subtropics, the peanut is native to
South America, where peanut pods were discovered and dated to
approximately 7600 years old. Cultivation spread throughout
Mesoamerica and eventually into Europe during the 19th century.
European traders distributed peanuts worldwide, and eventually they
arrived in America during the colonial period.
Now despite their name, peanuts are neither a pea nor a nut. Known
as the ground nut, the goober (where the chocolate-coated theatre
candy known as Goobers got its name) the goober pea, the monkey
nut and tree nut; technically, peanuts are a fruit that grow
underground. Being of the legume family, peanuts are considered a
vegetable for culinary purposes.
Peanuts have been a long-time fan favorite at one of America’s
treasured sports - baseball. In 1908, the Tin Pan Alley waltz, Take
Me Out to the Ball Game, was written with the famous lyric “Buy
me some peanuts and cracker jacks….”
Baseball players in 1914, courtesy of the Library of Congress, George Grantham Bain Collection
There are three Americans, who played a prominent role in
furthering the peanut industry.
During the 1800’s, cotton was a widely popular crop in the Deep
South. So much so, that soil was becoming depleted after numerous
plantings. Through the efforts of botanist, scientist and inventor
George Washington Carver, a rotation of peanuts was planted to
rejuvenate the soil.
President Jimmy Carter’s family business was growing peanuts.
He took classes in agriculture and was able to expand the farm into a
successful business and changed peanuts’ reputation in the industry.
The Incas were the first to create a peanut paste, but in modern
times, it was Dr. John Harvey Kellogg of the food manufacturing
company, who ground peanuts into a butter paste and touted its
health benefits.
A 1930 newspaper ad for a peanut butter brand courtesy of Goodman Fielder
The cuisines of Asia, South America and the U.S. use peanuts in
sauces, curries, stir-fries and desserts. And, who hasn’t enjoyed their
crunchy texture as a snack?
Ideally, a warm, sunny climate with a long frost-free season is
required to grow peanuts. But, according to northerngardener.org
and countryliving.com, peanuts can be grown in the North even in
containers! It’s an easy online search for a plant company that sells
peanut seeds and growing instructions.
A Fun Fact: Blue Jays can smell peanuts up to 5 miles.
And finally, let’s get to the best part: dessert!
Whether you need a gift for someone or yourself, and desire the
taste that only peanuts can satisfy, check out Sweet Designs'
assortment of Peanut Butter Truffles, Peanut Butter Cups, Peanut
Butter Buckeyes and Peanut Clusters!