WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., along with a number of other congressmen and senators recently sent a letter to Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, requesting an increase in peanut butter purchases for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) feeding programs. Congressman Bishop and other key agricultural members of Congress highlighted in the letter that America’s peanut farmers are faced with a significant surplus from the 2008 crop, and have received very few contracts for the 2009 crop.

Congressman Bishop, joined by nineteen colleagues, stated in the letter, “U.S. Department of Agriculture peanut butter purchases peaked in the early 1990’s with over 80,000,000 pounds used in federal feeding programs in a marketing year. Unfortunately, USDA purchases of peanut butter have diminished to less than half of that amount in the last decade.”

The letter highlights the nutritional benefits of peanut butter for people of all ages, which is supported by USDA research and land grant universities. The congressmen and Georgia’s senators, Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., also note that peanut butter is one of the most cost efficient products for American consumers.

“ Georgia’s peanut farmers appreciate Congressman Bishop’s leadership on this important issue,” says Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “The decline in USDA peanut butter purchases has hurt our industry and we are grateful that Congress is encouraging the department to take a second look at what we believe to be a great nutritional option in these difficult economic times.”

The letter sent to the Secretary Vilsack is available online at www.AmericanPeanuts.com.