For legislator, PB&J Day shows faith in industry

In these less-than-smooth days for the peanut industry, one state senator wants to remind everyone that the crunchy icon of Georgia agriculture has not been forsaken at the state Capitol.

Sen. John Bulloch (R-Ochlocknee) sponsored a resolution this week commending the state’s peanut industry and reminding everyone that Peanut Butter & Jelly Day will be celebrated at the Capitol on March 4.

“We’re promoting a great Georgia product, and that’s peanuts,” said Bulloch.

And next week, goober boosters will hold “Peanut Power Hour” at the Capitol, offering samples of a wide variety of peanut products with the aim of educating consumers about the safety and health benefits of peanuts.

The industry is acting in response to the nationwide salmonella outbreak in which tainted peanut products have sickened more than 630 people and possibly caused nine deaths.

Bulloch’s district includes Blakely, home to the Peanut Corp. of America processing plant now under federal investigation as the source of the salmonella outbreak. Bulloch has started to wear a peanut pin on his lapel, and recently, he held up a jar of peanut butter in the Senate chamber to remind his colleagues that it’s safe to eat.

Promoting peanuts is a harder job nowadays, though. Even the cafeterias in the government-owned buildings near the Capitol, where many senators and representatives dine, have banned peanut butter products for the time being.

“Everyone in the industry is well aware of the issue of a bad actor in this industry causing confusion,” said Don Koehler, executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission. His group gave $500 to support PB&J Day this year. It also plans to fry peanuts in the Capitol during the event.

Organizers expect 2,500 people to participate in Peanut Butter & Jelly Day, held for the past dozen or so years to recognize the state’s peanut farmers. Sponsors will serve grilled PB&J sandwiches, cookies, freshly fried peanuts and boiled peanuts.

“It’s about three hours of the most fun you could possibly have,” said Hope McKinnon, business manager for the Georgia Peanut Producers Association, which sponsors the event.

Kroger and other sponsors have donated the peanut butter and jelly, bread, milk and water, she said.

Bulloch emphasized that all brands of peanut butter in jars are safe to eat.

“My 89-year-old mother and my 3-year-old grandson both enjoy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” Bulloch said. “I wouldn’t be exposing either of them to anything I thought was remotely unsafe.”

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