TIFTON, Ga. - The Georgia peanut industry donated 14,112 jars of peanut butter today to the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank in celebration of Hunger Action Month in September. Representatives from the Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut Buying Points Association, American Peanut Shellers Association and Georgia Farm Bureau along with fourteen other individuals, organizations and businesses donated enough peanut butter to make 175,000 sandwiches.

The peanut industry donates peanut butter to the Food Bank of Southwest Georgia. Pictured left to right are: Gary Cromer, president of the National Peanut Buying Points Association; Zippy Duvall, president of the Georgia Farm Bureau; Ron Raleigh, executive director of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank; Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission and Joe West, board member of the American Peanut Shellers Association.

"We are very appreciative of all the donations and efforts that have made this donation come to fruition. This donation will supply needed food protein to thousands of households fending off hunger,” says Ronald Raleigh, executive director of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank. “We serve a population of needy seniors, families and children in middle Georgia, and we’ve found that everyone loves peanut butter regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity.”

The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank serves 24 Middle Georgia counties and partners with 310 agencies to serve approximately 180,000 needy people each year. The counties serviced by the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank in Macon, Ga., include Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Pulaski, Taylor, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Upson, Wheeler, Wilkinson, and Wilcox.

“On behalf of Georgia’s 4,500 peanut farmers, the Georgia Peanut Commission is proud to donate peanut butter to the Georgia Association of Food Banks,” says Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Peanut butter is a cost effective way for individuals to receive nutrients such as protein they need in their diets to stay healthy.”

“Buying points across the nation are proud to be a part of this industry promotion,” says Gary Cromer, president of the National Peanut Buying Points Association. “We have some extra peanuts market ready and this will help lots of people during these economic tough times.”

“ The American Peanut Shellers Association is delighted to support this industry effort and to help feed the hungry in Georgia a nutritious and tasty product – peanut butter,” says Joe West, APSA board member and past chairman.

“ Georgia Farm Bureau is proud to partner with the Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut Buying Points Association and American Peanut Shellers Association on this project to help Georgians in need by providing them with a healthy, nutritious food product that’s grown and produced here in Georgia,” says Zippy Duvall, Georgia Farm Bureau president. “Donating peanut butter made from Georgia grown peanuts that are processed by a company located in Georgia not only helps those in need, but also helps Georgia’s peanut farmers who are currently facing a tough market and supports Georgia jobs, which is important in this tough economy.”

The peanut butter donated was processed at Tara Foods, in Albany, Ga., using Georgia grown peanuts. Donations are still being accepted for this program to help the Georgia Association of Food Banks. A donation form is available online at www.gapeanuts.com and www.peanut-shellers.org for those interested in participating.