Laura Young
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
October is the middle of peanut season in Florida, and that's no better time for the annual Peanut Butter Challenge. Each year, the UF/IFAS Extension service joins forces with the FAMU Cooperative Extension, the Florida Peanut Producers Association and the Florida Peanut Federation for a blockbuster peanut butter drive that helps stock local food pantries – and food banks across the state – with this hunger-fighting food.
To do your part, simply donate unopened jars of peanut butter at your local UF/IFAS Extension office or wherever you see Peanut Butter Challenge collection boxes around town during the month of October. The following are collection sites within the tri-county area:
Hamilton County
• UF/IFAS Hamilton Extension Office 1143 NW US 41 Jasper, Fla. 32052
Lafayette County
• Mayo Thriftway 294 W Main St. Mayo, Fla. 32066
• UF/IFAS Lafayette Extension Office 176 SW Community Cir. Mayo, Fla. 32066
Suwannee County
• UF/IFAS Suwannee Extension Office 1302 11th St. SW Live Oak, Fla. 32064
• Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce 212 Ohio Ave. N Live Oak, Fla. 32064
• North Florida College Live Oak Campus 210 Ohio Ave. N Live Oak, Fla. 32064
In 2023, the statewide collection from the Peanut Butter Challenge totaled 27,769 pounds of peanut butter, which was enough to make more than 400,000 peanut butter sandwiches! Can Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette Counties become top contributors this year?