Grower commission promotes peanut consumption in schools

TIFTON — Here’s a pop quiz as the school year winds down. Which school district had the highest per capita consumption of peanuts?

The answer is a county deep in Southwest Georgia. The Grady County School System was tops for having the highest per capita consumption of peanuts and peanut butter — more than 700 pounds.

Getting peanuts on the menu in school districts was a major reason why representatives of the Georgia Peanut Commission attended the Georgia School Nutrition Association’s annual meeting earlier this month in Savannah, to promote consumption in schools across the state. During the three-day meeting, school nutrition professionals attended educational seminars, visited with food service industry representatives and received recognition for outstanding performance at their respective schools.

In the culinary competition, the commission sponsored a peanut recipe contest recognizing GSNA members who developed new peanut and peanut butter recipes for meals in Georgia schools.

“Sponsoring the peanut recipe contest for Georgia’s school nutrition program is something we look forward to each year,” said Armond Morris, chair on the commission comprising Georgia peanut producers who are elected by growers. “We appreciate all that our state’s nutrition personnel do to keep peanuts and peanut butter on the menu for Georgia’s school children.”

In the breakfast recipe category, Kathy Brown of South Douglas Elementary in Douglasville won first place for Peanut Butter Nut Muffin; second went to Helen Sellars of Southside Elementary in Cairo for Peanut Butter Banana Muffin, and third went to Dare Howze with Parker Mathis Learning Center in Valdosta for Chocolate Nutty Muffins.

For lunch recipes, first place was awarded to Julia Thomas of Bright Star Elementary in Douglasville for PB Apple Wrap with Honey; second to Carol Ramirez of Anne Street Elementary in Griffin for Peanut Butter Parfait, and third to Cheryl Mason of Southside Elementary in Pelham for Peanut Butter Crusted Chicken.

FCor snack recipes, Carol Winters of Treutlen High School in Soperton won first place for Peanut Butter Surprise, with second to Janet Howell of Harris County High in Waverly Hall for Gooey Peanut Butter Bar Snack and third to Deborah Watford of Lake Park Elementary in Valdosta for Chocolate Nutty Muffins.

All recipe entries were prepared and judged as part of the GSNA Culinary Competition in March 2016 at Rockdale Career Academy in Conyers.

The Peanut Commission represents about 3,400 Georgia peanut farmers and conducts programs in the areas of research, promotion and education.