The Elizabethtown Rotary Club learned about peanuts from Bladen County farmer Dan Ward of Clarkton. Ward updated the Rotarians about progress being made in the peanut industry.
Normally, Bladen’s farmers produce 4,500 acres of peanuts each year, said Ward.
According to the National Peanut Board, peanuts help to fight hunger in communities of need, whether in the US or abroad. According to a release, the American peanut industry works hard to feed the hungry domestically and around the globe. Peanut-based products (like RUTF) support food security and economic growth in the developing world.
Ward told the Rotarians that RUTF is used in many countries to assist malnourished children. The RUTF comes in a packet similar to a Ketchup packet, said Ward. The mother simply opens the packet and the child consumes the RUTF from the packet.
He also spoke about the nutritional value of peanuts and how they are easy to grow in North Carolina. Ward noted peanuts are not as dependent on irrigation as are other crops such as almonds. The peanut can be grown in soils that are considered poor for other types of crops.
Ward also discussed Peanut Butter for the Hungry. This organization encourages everyone to conduct peanut butter drives to help the hungry. They provide all of information needed for groups and individuals to conduct a peanut butter drive at www.pb4h.org.
About Author
