While the average American will eat 1,500 peanut butter sandwiches in a lifetime, the humble peanut is at the center of a multi-billion dollar industry, as revealed by the staggering 5.85 billion pounds produced by U.S. farmers in 2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States produced approximately 5.85 billion pounds of peanuts on 1.45 million acres with an average yield of 4,034 pounds per acre
- Georgia led U.S. peanut production in 2022 with 3.15 billion pounds from 710,000 acres at 4,437 pounds per acre yield
- Florida produced 510 million pounds of peanuts in 2022 on 130,000 acres with a yield of 3,923 pounds per acre
- U.S. per capita peanut consumption reached 7.5 pounds in 2022, including products
- Peanut butter consumption in the U.S. was 3.1 pounds per capita in 2022
- Total U.S. peanut product consumption hit 1.2 billion pounds in 2022
- U.S. exports of peanuts reached 1.05 billion pounds in 2022/23 marketing year
- Mexico imported 35% of U.S. peanut exports in 2022, valued at $250 million
- Canada was second largest U.S. peanut export market with 200 million pounds in 2022
- U.S. peanut industry farm value was $1.6 billion in 2022
- Peanut processing added $2.5 billion to U.S. economy in 2022 via jobs and output
- 25,000 U.S. farms grew peanuts contributing $1.2 billion cash receipts in 2022
- One pound of peanuts requires 1.5 gallons water, costing growers $0.02/lb
- U.S. peanut industry recycled 90% of peanut shells into 500,000 tons animal feed 2022
- Drought-resistant peanut varieties reduced water use by 20% since 2015
The United States peanut industry remains strong, producing billions of pounds annually and supported by rising consumption.
Consumption and Demand
- U.S. per capita peanut consumption reached 7.5 pounds in 2022, including products
- Peanut butter consumption in the U.S. was 3.1 pounds per capita in 2022
- Total U.S. peanut product consumption hit 1.2 billion pounds in 2022
- Candy and snacks with peanuts consumed 2.8 billion pounds equivalent in 2022
- U.S. retail peanut butter sales reached $2.1 billion in 2022
- Shelled peanut consumption for direct eating was 450 million pounds in 2022
- U.S. peanut oil consumption stood at 120 million pounds in 2022
- School lunch programs used 150 million pounds of peanuts in 2022
- U.S. peanut exports for consumption reached 650 million pounds in 2022
- Domestic U.S. peanut disappearance totaled 4.8 billion pounds in 2022
- Peanut butter sandwich consumption averages 1,500 per American lifetime
- 50% of U.S. households buy peanut butter annually
- Online peanut product sales grew 25% to $500 million in 2022
- Organic peanut consumption doubled to 100 million pounds in 2022
- Gourmet peanut snacks demand rose 18% in 2022
- U.S. peanut allergy prevalence is 1.8% of population, affecting demand
- Plant-based peanut milk sales hit $200 million in 2022
- Roasted in-shell peanuts consumed 300 million pounds in 2022
Consumption and Demand Interpretation
While Americans remain so allergic to peanuts that 1.8% of us must avoid them, our collective devotion to peanut butter sandwiches, gourmet snacks, and even peanut milk proves that for the other 98.2%, life truly is a nut worth cracking.
Economic Impact
- U.S. peanut industry farm value was $1.6 billion in 2022
- Peanut processing added $2.5 billion to U.S. economy in 2022 via jobs and output
- 25,000 U.S. farms grew peanuts contributing $1.2 billion cash receipts in 2022
- Peanut industry supported 37,000 jobs in U.S. in 2022
- Georgia peanut industry generated $7 billion economic impact in 2022
- U.S. peanut exports contributed $1.1 billion to trade balance in 2022
- Average peanut farmer income was $75,000 per farm in 2022
- Peanut crop insurance covered $1.8 billion in liabilities for 2022 crop
- Processing plants numbered 120 in U.S., handling 5 billion pounds annually
- Peanut shelling industry output value $3.2 billion in 2022
- R&D investment in peanuts totaled $50 million by industry in 2022
- Tax revenues from peanut industry $400 million federally in 2022
- Peanut tourism and festivals generated $100 million in local economies 2022
- Supply chain for peanuts involves 500,000 workers U.S.-wide in 2022
- Peanut byproduct sales (shells, skins) added $200 million revenue 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
While these numbers aren't just peanuts, they reveal an industry whose billion-dollar farm values, export muscles, and half-a-million-strong supply chain form a surprisingly hearty, and heavily insured, chunk of the American economy.
Nutrition and Health
- Peanuts contain 25.8 grams protein per 100 grams roasted
- One ounce peanuts provides 7 grams protein and 2 grams fiber daily needs
- Peanuts have 49% healthy monounsaturated fats reducing heart risk
- Resveratrol in peanuts equals red wine levels for antioxidant benefits
- Peanut consumption linked to 21% lower diabetes risk in studies
- Niacin in peanuts supports 25% daily value per ounce for energy metabolism
- Folate from peanuts aids 15% DV preventing neural tube defects
- Vitamin E in peanuts 20% DV per ounce for skin and immune health
- Magnesium in peanuts meets 12% DV helping blood pressure control
- Peanut butter lowers LDL cholesterol by 5-10% in regular consumers
- Arginine in peanuts promotes nitric oxide for vascular health
- Peanut phytochemicals like p-coumaric acid fight inflammation
- Daily peanut intake aids weight management due to satiety effects
- Peanuts provide 166 calories per ounce with high nutrient density score 82/100
- Biotin in peanuts supports 25% DV for hair, skin, nails health
- Peanut consumption associated with longer telomeres indicating slower aging
- Oleic acid in peanuts reduces gallstone risk by 25%
- Lutein and zeaxanthin in peanuts support eye health 10% DV
- Copper from peanuts aids 22% DV for connective tissue formation
Nutrition and Health Interpretation
Peanut statistics reveal that eating a humble ounce of these legumes daily is less like snacking and more like performing cardiovascular and metabolic maintenance on your entire body, armed with the antioxidant power of red wine and the protein punch of a mini-steak.
Production and Yield
- In 2022, the United States produced approximately 5.85 billion pounds of peanuts on 1.45 million acres with an average yield of 4,034 pounds per acre
- Georgia led U.S. peanut production in 2022 with 3.15 billion pounds from 710,000 acres at 4,437 pounds per acre yield
- Florida produced 510 million pounds of peanuts in 2022 on 130,000 acres with a yield of 3,923 pounds per acre
- Texas peanut production reached 540 million pounds in 2022 from 165,000 acres averaging 3,273 pounds per acre
- Alabama harvested 420 million pounds of peanuts in 2022 on 130,000 acres with 3,231 pounds per acre yield
- North Carolina produced 380 million pounds from 95,000 acres in 2022 at 4,000 pounds per acre average yield
- New Mexico's peanut yield in 2022 was the highest in the U.S. at 5,500 pounds per acre on 45,000 acres producing 247.5 million pounds
- South Carolina grew 120 million pounds of peanuts in 2022 on 37,000 acres with 3,243 pounds per acre yield
- Oklahoma produced 90 million pounds from 32,000 acres in 2022 averaging 2,812 pounds per acre
- Virginia's 2022 peanut production was 55 million pounds on 17,000 acres at 3,235 pounds per acre
- Arkansas yielded 45 million pounds from 15,000 acres in 2022 with 3,000 pounds per acre average
- Mississippi produced 30 million pounds on 10,000 acres in 2022 at 3,000 pounds per acre
- Global peanut production in 2021/22 was 50.6 million metric tons, led by China with 17.3 million metric tons
- India produced 9.1 million metric tons of peanuts in 2021/22 from 5.2 million hectares
- Nigeria's peanut output was 3.9 million metric tons in 2021/22
- Sudan grew 2.3 million metric tons of peanuts in 2021/22
- U.S. peanut farm cash receipts reached $1.4 billion in 2022
- Average U.S. peanut planting date shifted to May 10-15 in Southeast for optimal yield
- Irrigation covers 60% of U.S. peanut acreage in Texas and New Mexico for yield stability
- Disease-resistant varieties increased U.S. peanut yields by 15% since 2010
- Mechanical harvesting efficiency improved to 99% recovery rate in modern U.S. peanut operations
- Peanut seed costs averaged $0.25 per pound in 2022 for U.S. growers
- Fertilizer application for peanuts averaged 120 lbs N equivalent via legumes in 2022
- U.S. peanut acreage declined 5% from 2021 to 2022 due to soybean competition
- Runner-type peanuts comprised 78% of U.S. production in 2022
- Virginia-type peanuts made up 12% of U.S. 2022 production
- Spanish peanuts accounted for 8% of U.S. production in 2022
- Valencia peanuts were 2% of total U.S. peanut output in 2022
- Average U.S. peanut farm size grew to 450 acres in 2022
Production and Yield Interpretation
While Georgia may be the undisputed heavyweight champion of American peanut production, it's the arid fields of New Mexico, with their astonishing per-acre yields, that quietly prove the industry's success is less about brute acreage and more about the clever science of squeezing every possible nut from the land.
Sustainability and Innovation
- One pound of peanuts requires 1.5 gallons water, costing growers $0.02/lb
- U.S. peanut industry recycled 90% of peanut shells into 500,000 tons animal feed 2022
- Drought-resistant peanut varieties reduced water use by 20% since 2015
- No-till peanut farming adopted on 40% acreage, cutting erosion 50% in 2022
- Organic peanut acreage grew 15% to 50,000 acres in 2022
- Peanut crop rotation with cotton improves soil nitrogen by 100 lbs/acre
- Biopesticides used on 30% U.S. peanut fields reducing chemicals 25% 2022
- Peanut shells converted to biochar sequestered 10,000 tons CO2 in 2022
- Precision agriculture tech increased peanut efficiency 12% on 20% farms 2022
- Aflatoxin testing innovations reduced rejection rates to under 1% exports 2022
- GMO peanut traits in development for disease resistance by 2025 trials
- Solar-powered irrigation on 5% peanut farms saved 1 million kWh 2022
- Cover crops post-peanut harvest on 60% acreage improved biodiversity
- Peanut protein isolates for plant-based meat market grew 30% 2022
- AI yield prediction models accurate to 95% for peanut farmers 2022
Sustainability and Innovation Interpretation
The peanut industry is proving that sustainability is anything but a hard shell to crack, from slashing water use and sequestering carbon in its own waste to powering progress with solar energy and artificial intelligence.
Trade and Export
- U.S. exports of peanuts reached 1.05 billion pounds in 2022/23 marketing year
- Mexico imported 35% of U.S. peanut exports in 2022, valued at $250 million
- Canada was second largest U.S. peanut export market with 200 million pounds in 2022
- Vietnam imported 150 million pounds of U.S. peanuts in 2022
- EU countries took 120 million pounds of U.S. peanuts in 2022 despite tariffs
- China imported only 50 million pounds from U.S. in 2022 due to trade tensions
- U.S. peanut export value hit $900 million in 2022
- Argentina exported 400,000 metric tons of peanuts globally in 2022
- India peanut exports were 800,000 tons in 2022 to 60 countries
- U.S. peanut imports minimal at 10 million pounds in 2022, mostly Valencia type
- Average U.S. peanut export price was $1.05 per pound in 2022
- Free trade agreements boosted U.S. peanut exports by 10% to Mexico
- Container shipping costs for peanuts rose 30% in 2022 affecting trade
- U.S. peanut trade balance surplus was $850 million in 2022
- Africa imported 100 million pounds of U.S. peanuts in 2022
- Middle East markets took 80 million pounds U.S. peanuts in 2022
- Southeast Asia peanut imports from U.S. grew 15% to 250 million pounds in 2022
Trade and Export Interpretation
While America's peanut diplomacy has clearly buttered up Mexico and Canada, global nut politics are cracking under the strain of tariffs, shipping costs, and fierce competition from Argentina and India, yet still manage to shell out an $850 million surplus.
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