West Texas counties are the state's highest yielding peanut producers. However, intense drought conditions are stifling peanut harvests, driving up the price of peanut butter. So, although hands are busy at the South Plains Food Bank preparing food boxes with groceries for families in need, the nourishing staple of peanut butter is in very short supply.
"We've seen a reduction in the amount of peanut butter we can provide to our clients, and that has an impact. It affects the quality of our food boxes," David Weaver, South Plains Food Bank CEO, said.
The root of the problem stems from withering weather worldwide.
"Due to the drought there was such a decrease that it really impacted the national supply of peanuts," Shelly Nutt, Executive Director of Texas Peanut Producers, said.
That's driving up the cost of the protein-packed spread.
"Food prices this year have all been going up and it seems like peanuts and peanut butter have been leading the way," Weaver said.
The South Plains Food bank gives out around 700 boxes of food every week. The declining peanut butter donations make it harder to balance these food boxes with foods that are rich in protein.
"Peanut butter is really one of those staples that we like to put in our food boxes because it's good protein, it's healthy," Weaver said.
Nutt adds that peanut butter not only provides a nutritious punch, it's also convenient. This is especially true in food bank boxes.
"With peanut butter, all you need is a spoon and you've got a meal," Nutt said.
Despite the hike in price, Nutt still advocates that people in the Hub City donate peanut butter for more reasons than one.
"Food banks are desperate for peanut butter, they need it year round but especially in the season of giving we want to encourage people to give something that's really good and really needed to the food banks. Also, it's a product that's grown right here in the Lubbock area and supports the Lubbock economy," Nutt said.
The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Texas Peanut Producers Board to benefit the South Plains Food Bank. They are going nuts with a peanut butter drive. Contributions are being accepted through December 17th. If you'd like to help with those donations, you can contact The Chamber of Commerce at 806-761-7000.
For more information on how you can help, you can click on the following link to The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce website.
Lubbock Peanut Butter Drive.
