[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNIZING OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD

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                           HON. BOBBY BRIGHT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 2010

  Mr. BRIGHT. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, March 10th, the National 
Peanut Board (NPB) celebrates 10 years of work on behalf of America's 
10,000 peanut farmers, including the 500 who live in my district. 
Before this organization was created, there was no national effort by 
growers to market American-grown peanuts, spur new product development 
and innovative new uses, or to carry out an issues management program. 
Through several major strategic initiatives, the NPB's grower-funded 
check-off program has made measurable progress toward its goal of 
increasing demand and consumption since the launch of its promotion, 
marketing and advertising campaign.
  Highlights from the National Peanut Board's past ten years will be 
showcased on March 10th at an event at the historic Eastern Market in 
Washington, D.C. featuring dishes created by celebrated chefs. They 
plan to honor one of America's most iconic and beloved foods. From 
savory to sweet, peanuts will be used in traditional and innovative 
dishes from a variety of cuisines at this special event celebrating 
this essential and deeply rooted part of America's food culture.
  Since its inception, NPB has played a vital role in promoting 
peanuts. To stimulate consumer demand for American-grown peanuts over 
the last decade, NPB has extolled the value, nutritional attributes, 
versatility, portability, and great taste of American-grown peanuts, 
peanut butter and peanut products. NPB has undertaken marketing 
programs domestically and internationally to reach that goal, working 
to spark new uses for American-grown peanuts and peanut butter and to 
encourage the creation of innovative peanut products.
  These programs are working. Since the start of NPB's programs in 
2000, total peanut usage has increased more than 15 percent when 
compared to levels of usage in the 1990s. Peanut butter consumption 
alone has increased even more dramatically--over 20 percent during the 
same period, according to USDA Stocks and Processing reports.
  Through partnerships with other commodity groups, manufacturers, and 
foodservice, NPB brings American-grown peanuts where they have never 
been before. NPB's targeted foodservice initiative actively promotes 
the culinary value of peanuts and peanut products by positioning them 
as versatile ingredients that can add nutrition, flavor, texture and 
appeal to any meal. In fact, listings of peanuts on the menus of the 
200 restaurant chains have increased by 146 percent over the past seven 
years, according to Food Beat, Inc.
  Production research funding is also at the forefront for the National 
Peanut Board. Over the past 10 years, NPB has invested more than $14.4 
million in peanut production research to help create crop efficiencies, 
improve crop quality and reduce production costs. Additionally, the NPB 
is the only commodity board investing in food allergy research, 
outreach and education and has allocated more than $7 million to this 
cause.
  Furthermore, the NPB played a pivotal role during the 2009 salmonella 
crisis, most notably by hosting a two-day consumer and media outreach 
event in Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal in New York. Through 
direct interactions, NPB and its partners educated consumers, conveyed 
the concerns of peanut farmers, and facilitated a steady market 
recovery for peanut butter.
  Nearly half the peanuts grown in the United States are harvested 
within a 100-mile radius of Dothan, Alabama. As the Representative of 
the district which ranks fourth in the country in overall peanut 
acreage, I understand the importance of organizations like the NPB. Ten 
years of hard work and positive results for America's peanut farmers is 
a remarkable achievement. In honor of their 10th Anniversary, I commend 
the National Peanut Board for all of their hard work and past 
achievements, and wish them continued success in the future.

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