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Highlights:
- UF/IFAS Extension offices will collect peanut butter donations in October and November
- All collected peanut butter will be distributed to local food pantries
Don’t pass up those peanut butter sales—you can help fight hunger in your community. For the 15th year in a row, 38 of Florida’s Extension service offices will be collecting the protein-packed favorite. All donations will be distributed to local food pantries to feed the communities they serve.
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The event is a collaboration between the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Extension. Collection begins October 1 and runs through the month and, in some counties, into November.
“Extension cares for the people of Florida every day, providing programming to improve their lives,” says Andra Johnson, director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. “The Peanut Butter Challenge lets them involve their whole community in that kind of support.”
Participating county Extension offices will collect sealed, unexpired peanut butter in any brand, size or type of container, from the individual cups to the big family-sized jars. The project has gained popularity every year with schools and organizations conducting friendly competitions to see who can collect the most.
“What I love about the Peanut Butter Challenge is that it has become much bigger than an Extension competition,” says Kevin Camm, county Extension director in Orange county, winner of the 2025 challenge. “Beyond our usual group, we’ve also brought in other divisions and departments from Orange County Government, as well as our 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Farm Bureau partners. We rely on our 4-H members to collect and get the peanut butter where it needs to go.”
The event began in the Florida Panhandle in 2012, and the event has expanded every year, sparking friendly competition between counties and giving schools and community groups a fun way to help their neighbors. The 2025 event resulted in 44,472 pounds of peanut butter donations, or roughly enough to make 622,608 sandwiches based on a 2-tablespoon serving size per sandwich.
Peanut butter is a prized product for food pantries because it is nutrient-dense, shelf-stable, and a great ingredient for sandwiches, snacks, and other easy meals. It is also big business for Florida, as the state ranks third nationwide in peanut production (2024). In 2025, Florida’s peanut growers harvested 167,000 acres, resulting in 651 million pounds of peanuts.
“Last year, we donated to 17 food pantries across Orange County,” notes Camm. “Hopefully, we can extend our impact further this year. The competitive spirit is there, sure, but the real point is neighbors supporting neighbors.”
The Florida Peanut Federation, the Florida Peanut Producers Association, and community partners throughout the state also support the event.
For more information about how to participate, contact your local Extension office or visit sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/peanutbutter.
Key Points:
- Annual hunger relief effort: The 15th Peanut Butter Challenge brings together UF/IFAS Extension, FAMU Extension and community partners.
- Donation window: Collections began Oct. 1 and continue through October, with some counties extending their drives into November.
- What to donate: Participating offices accept sealed, unexpired peanut butter in any brand, size or type of container.
- Orange County connection: Orange County won the 2025 challenge and distributed donations to 17 local food pantries.
- Statewide impact: Last year’s challenge collected 44,472 pounds of peanut butter — enough for approximately 622,608 sandwiches.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
For more information, go to ifas.ufl.edu.
