The American Peanut Council’s mission is to support the long-term growth of the U.S. peanut industry. We are the only organization that represents all segments of the peanut industry, including growers, shellers, manufacturers and allied partners. In a nutshell, we bring the industry together as we support exports, sustainability, reputation management and research of the world’s favorite nut.
It has been a privilege serving as the 2023 chairman of the American Peanut Council’s board of directors. The board is committed to effective guidance to ensure that APC continues to carry out its vital mission of unifying the peanut industry through strategic export promotion, a first-of-its-kind sustainability initiative, top-notch peanut research and reputation management.
This was also a personal journey for me. I attended and spoke at my first International Peanut Forum in Lisbon. I was involved in the successful revamping of the executive committee and board governance to better reflect the needs of APC membership. In my role as chair, I supported APC’s improved communications to members and stakeholders, including its newsletters, Insights Summit and other APC functions. I also championed the new export strategy work that took countless volunteer leadership hours and tremendous dedication to develop.
APC’s vision is a powerful one. For nearly 80 years it has made a significant impact within the peanut industry. It has been an extraordinary history of accomplishment, and this past year was no exception. I think after viewing this impact report you will agree.
On behalf of the board, I am confident that APC will continue to carry out its mission with the creativity and dedication that has defined its history. I am proud to be part of such a resilient and innovative industry and am excited to see where the future takes us.
Annual value of U.S. peanut and peanut product exports, averaging 25% of the U.S. crop.
Grower enrollees for the Sustainable U.S. Peanuts Initiative covering 99,000 acres in 11 States.
Attendees from 35 Countries hosted at the 2023 International Peanut Forum in Lisbon.
Attendees hosted at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Peanut Research & Education Society (APRES).
Rebranded and renamed the winter conference to APC’s Insights Summit.
Welcomed a VP of Communications and hired a new Director of Sustainability to bring added benefit and visibility to APC and its members.
Supported The Peanut Research Foundation’s multiple research projects and its Peanut Genome Initiative.
Was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal for our export work in Japan.
Hosted official industry trade missions to Europe, Japan and Mexico.
Launched the extensive work of four task forces to set a new industry strategy for U.S. peanut exports.
Continued to provide reputation management to the entire peanut industry through crisis communications and other critical resources.
Jars of peanut butter donated to America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, with the help of the Georgia Peanut Commission, at the APRES annual meeting.
We brought together 350 attendees from 35 countries at the 2023 International Peanut Forum in Lisbon.
We curated a roster of top-tier policy, industry and issue-expert speakers at the 2023 Insights Summit in Washington, D.C. The conference also got a new name and a new look.
We jointly hosted a successful USA Peanut Congress with the American Peanut Shellers Association on Amelia Island, Fla., where we awarded our signature Hall of Fame award to the National Peanut Board’s Bob Parker, and Lifetime Achievement awards to Senator Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), George Lovatt from Lovatt and Rushing, Victor Nwosu from Mars Wrigley, and Terry Shamblin from the American Peanut Growers Group.
We held the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Peanut Research & Education Society (APRES) in Savannah with 289 attendees, a record high since 1999, and the first year under APC management.
This past year, APC expanded and defended exports of U.S. peanuts and peanut products, valued at $703 million annually, averaging 25% of the U.S. crop.
Of significance, we launched a new industry strategy for growing U.S. peanut exports through the extensive work of four task forces. Considerable member input and leadership went into setting the new strategy, which will guide our path forward.
We hosted official industry trade missions to Europe, Japan and Mexico, along with visits to our Canadian customers and manufacturers.We participated in 20 international conferences and trade shows and hosted international customers.
APC carried out ongoing trade, consumer and promotional work in markets around the globe.
APC completed the second year of the Sustainable U.S. Peanuts Initiative and has opened the third crop year enrollment. Since launching the initiative in 2021, we have taken significant steps toward developing a credible sustainability framework for the entire peanut industry, starting at the field level. We are excited about the path forward as we move into year three.
Not only are consumers demanding sustainable food production practices, but manufacturers, retailers and even our international trading partners are increasingly having the same expectations. SUSP is supporting America’s peanut farmers with metrics on the most efficient use of on-farm resources, as well as encouraging farm operation sustainability practices that will help meet these expectations, lead to increased demand for peanuts and set the stage for long-term economic viability.
Our 2023 goal was to double the 69 grower enrollments from the first year. We far exceeded expectations with:
Growers enrolled
in 11 States
Representation of the 2022 U.S. planted peanut acres, equaling 99,000 Acres
Peanut acres included a Fieldprint Analysis, representing 60,204 tons of peanuts
Individual
peanut fields
New variety release TifCB7 was the first direct result of the Peanut Genome Initiative. With segments of the wild species Arachis cardenasii, which impart unprecedented levels of late leafspot resistance, we are optimistic TifCB7 will reduce, or even eliminate, fungicide inputs while yielding and grading at competitive levels.
Marker development continued for aflatoxin resistance and flavor traits. Progress shows that even complex traits like these can be addressed by non-GMO, genomics and breeding. It’s hoped that markers for flavor and aflatoxin resistance will soon be a part of peanut breeding programs.
The Peanut Research Foundation board of directors approved a new research plan which continues its promising research while expanding to include many critical quality and nutritional issues. The foundation’s goal is to explore opportunities to improve peanut’s already impressive protein content, fatty acid profile, antioxidant content and other quality traits.
We continued to cultivate strong relationships with our members in 2023, while providing exceptional member value through programming, industry involvement and reputation management. APC members are engaged in growing and developing export markets, are connected with industry leaders and experts, and are at the forefront of industry issues.
We refreshed our website at peanutsusa.com, aligning it with our mission and work.
We strengthened our social media channels.
We engaged more strategically with the press.
We deepened communications with our members to keep them in the know with our monthly webinar series, Insights newsletters and timely alerts.
We introduced the From the Field video series to hear directly from our members in their own words.
APC manages Peanut Butter for the Hungry to raise money for and source peanut butter for food pantries throughout the U.S. We also work with global partners to distribute peanut-based ready-to-use therapeutic foods. APC staff donates their time to the program at no cost, meaning more than 90% of the administrative costs are paid for by the industry and donations go straight to those who need it the most.
With the help of the Georgia Peanut Commission, APRES members donated 4,320, 16-ounce jars of Peanut Proud peanut butter to the America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia during their 2023 annual meeting.
Chairman
Collins McNeil
M.C. McNeill & Co.
Vice Chairman
Donald Chase
Georgia Peanut Commission
Treasurer
Anne-Marie DeLorenzo
Mars Wrigley Confectionery
Richard Owen
President & CEO
rowen@peanutsusa.com
Louise McKerchar
Vice President & European Marketing Director
lmckerchar@peanutsusa.org.uk
Tracy Grondine
Vice President, Communications
tgrondine@peanutsusa.com
Peter Vlazakis
Senior Director, International Programs
pvlazakis@peanutsusa.com
Renee Deuell
Director of Finance
rdeuell@peanutsusa.com
Allie Randell
Director of Sustainability
arandell@peanutsusa.com
Christina Taylor
Director of Events
ctaylor@peanutsusa.com
Peggy L. Disney
Membership & Marketing Manager
pdisney@peanutsusa.com
Mary Scott
International Programs Manager
mscott@peanutsusa.com
Steve Brown, Ph.D.
Executive Director
The Peanut Research Foundation
sbrown@peanutsusa.com
Tom Corcoran
Alabama, National Peanut Board
Carl Sanders
Alabama Peanut Producers Association
Joel Sirmon
Alabama Peanut Producers Association*
Greg Baltz
Arkansas, National Peanut Board
Ken Barton
Florida Peanut Producers Association
Larry Ford
Florida Peanut Producers Association
Don Koehler
Georgia Peanut Commission
Rodney Dawson
Georgia Peanut Commission
Joe Boddiford
Georgia Peanut Commission
Tim Burch
Georgia Peanut Commission*
Donald Chase
Georgia Peanut Commission*
Ross Kendrick
Georgia Peanut Commission
Casey Cox
Georgia, National Peanut Board*
Paul Rogers
Virginia, National Peanut Board
Lonnie Fortner
Mississippi, National Peanut Board
Ashley Collins
North Carolina Peanut Growers Association
Les Crall
Oklahoma, National Peanut Board
Katherine Helms
South Carolina Peanut Board
Otis Johnson
Texas Peanut Producers Board
Jeff Roper
Texas Peanut Producers Board
Larry Don Womack
Texas Peanut Producers*
Dell Cotton
Virginia Peanut Growers Association*
John Powell
American Peanut Shellers Association*
Charles Birdsong
Birdsong Peanuts
Darlene Cowart
Birdsong Peanuts
Robert Crumpler
Birdsong Peanuts
Greg Harnish
Birdsong Peanuts*
Dirk Lindsey
Coastal Grower
Lupe de Lira
Golden Peanut
Blair Hillen
Golden Peanut
Clint Piper
Golden Peanut*
Mike Davis
Olam Peanut Shelling Co.
Patricia Moody
Olam Peanut Shelling Co.*
Miriam Crosby
The Peanut Institute/APSA
Rachel Santos
Premium Peanut*
Clay Garnto
Premium Peanut
Byron Warnken
Wilco Peanut Co.
John Gray
Williston Peanuts
Anne-Marie DeLorenzo,
Mars Wrigley*
Jack Pattengale
Clements Foods Company
Kimmi Wernli
Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter*
Bob Sauer
Hormel/Planters
Brian Reed
The J.M. Smucker Company*
Michael Campagna
John B. Sanfilippo & Son
James Brown
Luray Peanut Company
Brandon Underwood
Once Again Nut Butter
Lee Zalben
Peanut Butter & Company
Lee Zalben
Peanut Butter & Company
Collins McNeil
M.C. McNeill & Company*
Stuart Franklin
Mazur & Hockman Inc.
Tyron Spearman
National Peanut Buying Points Association
Hugh Nall
Southern Ag Carriers
Jack Davis
Peanut Research Foundation Chair
*2023 Executive Committee members
