Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 09/13/2012
By Emily Smith CNN - How shell we celebrate? September 13 is National Peanut Day!
Sure, we hate to get stuck with so many of them at the bottom of a bag of trail mix, but peanuts don't deserve the bad rap. Here's 10 fun facts to help change your mind about peanuts:
- Despite their name, peanuts are not a nut, they're legumes related to the bean family.
- Peanuts originated in South America, most likely Paraguay.
- China produces 41.5% of the world's peanuts, followed by India and the U.S. Georgia is the leading peanut producer in the U.S.
- There are four types of peanuts grown in the U.S.: Runner, Virginia, Spanish and Valencia.
- Peanuts are a good source of fiber, and are naturally free of trans fats and sodium. They contain the most protein of any nut.
- About 1-2% of the US population is allergic to peanuts.
- It takes approximately 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
- Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter were both peanut farmers.
- Astronaut Allen B. Sheppard took a peanut with him to the moon.
- The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before they graduate from high school.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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