Local donors contributed 4,214 jars of peanut butter to this year’s statewide Peanut Butter Challenge—more than any other Florida county—helping stock food pantries before the holidays with protein-rich, shelf-stable food that families desperately need.
“Sometimes the smallest gift is exactly what makes a family’s dinner table possible,” said Kevin Camm, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Orange County. “It costs little, and it can fill a cupboard and warm a home during the holidays.”
Statewide, the challenge collected 44,564 pounds of peanut butter — enough to feed over 10,000 people based on average U.S. consumption rates. That’s 5,000 pounds more than last year and brings the five-year total since 2020 to 212,860 pounds.
The annual drive, coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension offices across Florida with support from the Florida Peanut Federation and Florida Peanut Producers Association, started in the Panhandle in 2012. What began as a regional effort to address food insecurity has grown into a statewide competition, with 37 of Florida’s 67 counties taking part this year.
While Escambia led the state in jar count, Orange County collected the most peanut butter by weight at 5,186 pounds.
The October-November collection window targets the critical period before winter holidays, when food pantries face increased demand, but donations often lag. Peanut butter offers exceptional value for hunger relief — it doesn’t require refrigeration, provides essential protein and fats, and has a long shelf life.
- Escambia County’s first-place finish reflects both the depth of need in our community and the generosity of residents willing to help their neighbors through tough times.
