My First Time on a Peanut Farm

By: Jada Linton, RDN, LD

 

I stepped off the bus onto the solid soil. The fresh smell of harvested peanuts in the air filled my nose.  Taking in the never-ending rows of planted peanuts was breathtaking. With the warmth of the sun on my arms I walked toward the center of the field.  I wanted to get the full experience.

This was the first part of the Georgia Peanut Farm Tour. The first stop was at Sed Rowe’s Farm, a 10 acre plot of organic peanuts!

This is all a part of Georgia Organics approach to Farmer Support. The short-term goal of the project was to enroll African-American and veteran producers in areas of poverty to deliver instructions on USDA Certified Organic production.

Sed Rowe spoke to us about how the organic peanut plants are usually grow closer to the ground in height. Sed also spoke about the importance of controlling weeds before they get established!

Later on in the tour we also traveled to Dawson Brothers farm. Some of the peanuts had been out drying for a couple of days, and I could hear the crunch beneath my feet.  As I stepped closer to the field there was a swirl of dust in the air.  The machines whirring in the distance digging peanuts so they could dry out too.  My first time on a peanut farm and I had the chance to see more than I could imagine.

Click here to learn how peanuts grow

 

I learned about how much work, sweat, and knowledge the growers put into the peanut picking process.  The peanut growers are dedicated to having a delicious product. 

Five peanut facts that stuck with me:  

1.  Peanuts are picked and dried out for a couple of days before they are harvested.
2. Peanuts, like many other crops, have pests that growers need to fend off.
3. There are different machines growers use to dig and harvest peanuts.
4. The peanut plant has beautiful yellow flowers that grow above ground and the pods containing the seeds develop in the soil.
5. To grow a peanut plant, growers plant specially grown peanut kernels from the previous year’s crop.

 

 

Click here to learn 5 more things you didn’t know about Peanut Harvesting!

My first time on a peanut farm was definitely one for the books and I will never forget it! I learned so many new peanut facts. I am so grateful to have the experience to see the in depth process of peanut growing and harvesting.