TIFTON, Georgia – The 19th annual Georgia Peanut Tour is set for next week and highlights a cross section of the peanut industry from field to manufacturing. The tour is set for August 30 – September 1, 2005 in the Columbus, Ft. Gaines, Blakely, Ga. area, as well as Headland, Ala.

A “Hot Topics Seminar” is scheduled on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at the Columbus Hotel beginning at 2:00 p.m. This session provides attendees with information on current peanut research, a market outlook, uniform peanut performance tests, new peanut food products and an update on the 2005 peanut crop.

Following the “Hot Topics Seminar” participants can cheer on the Columbus Catfish baseball team during Georgia Peanut Night at the game, Aug. 30, which begins at 6:00 p.m. During Georgia Peanut Night at the game, fans will receive free Georgia peanuts and hear live interviews of peanut farmers from the announcer’s booth throughout the game. Also, fans can cheer on Mr. Peanut as he challenges the Catfish mascot in a race around the bases.

The Georgia Peanut Tour highlights several aspects of the entire industry including farm visits, university research updates, tours of buying points, shelling plants and manufacturing plants. One highlight of the tour includes a visit to Tom’s Foods in Columbus, Ga.

The Georgia Peanut Tour is coordinated by the Georgia Peanut Commission in Tifton, Ga., the University of Georgia Tifton and Griffin Campus and the USDA ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory in Dawson, Ga. More information regarding the tour can be viewed online at www.gapeanuts.com.