Digging Up Peanuts

Of the pea family, Leguminosae, the peanut is an annual herbaceous vine. The nut or seed of the plant Arachis hypogaea L., the peanut itself grows underground, amongst the root system of the short, leafy plant. In fact, its name is derived from the Greek word hypogaea, which means “growing beneath the ground.” Native to South America, the peanut is not strictly really a nut; like the pea and bean, the peanut is a legume. Due the nut-like characteristics of the fruit, it earned its name as the peanut.

The peanut plant requires four to five warm months for proper development, and, as a result, is predominantly found in ranges between 38 degrees north and 38 degrees south of the equator. These locations usually provide adequate rainfall, warmth, and the absence of frost. Propagation of the peanut is done by seed, usually planted in April or May. The peanut plant’s flowering and fruiting habits are especially different; after fertilization and flowering above ground, it fruits below. The very interesting peanut plant is considered a nitrogen fixer; it is able to convert nitrogen from the air into soluble nitrates. Peanut plants usually can only be planted on the same soil once ever three years because they deplete the soil of calcium and potassium.

Peanuts prefer a light, friable, sandy soil with good drainage because harvesting includes digging the peanuts from under the ground and because peanuts cannot stand to be waterlogged. They do have up to a 50% moisture content when freshly harvested, and thus must be left out to dry for about three days to prevent spoilage.

There are some upright varieties of peanuts, whose plants grow up to eighteen inches in a bush like structure. The Valencia variety grows up to four feet high and has heavy reddish stems. Types known as “runners,” grow along the ground like vines, producing their fruit underground. Archeological evidence points to the use and existence of the peanut approximately 35 centuries ago. Peanut plants have been found amongst mummy bundles and burial sites.

The American botanist, George Washington Carver (1864-1943), was a pioneer in peanut research. He taught at the Tuskegee Institute where he developed over 300 products from peanuts, peanut shells, peanut foliage. His developments ranged from soap, shaving cream, dyes and plastics to cheese, mayonnaise, milk, ice-cream, and coffee. Carver did not allow any of his work to be patented; he wanted peanuts to flourish and thus wanted his discoveries to be available for the widest possible use.

Peanuts are a great choice as a healthy snack or side dish. They contain fiber, monounsaturated (good) fats, are high in protein, vitamins (including many essential B vitamins, as well as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and iron). Another great nutritional advantage of peanuts is that they contain no cholesterol.

Like Art’s Sunflower Nuts and Cashews Art’s Peanuts are roasted in 100% pure peanut oil; the oil is not mixed with cottonseed oil to cut costs! (Have you ever tasted a cottonseed? Yuck). Companies that mix oils often reduce the flash point enough so that they are required to add a flame retardant. (Have you ever tasted a flame retardant? No? I don’t want to try either.) Art’s Peanuts are dusted with a light coating of salt to accentuate their flavor and are a great source of good fats, fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, calcium and TASTE. Another healthy snack uncovered- or should we say… dug up.

We provide Art’s Nuts direct to the public by the case at our online Art’s Nuts Product Catalog.