Here in the United States, peanuts are generally associated with the South. Peanuts originated in South America but came to North America via Africa. In the 1890s, George Washington Carver began to promote the peanut as a replacement for the cotton crop (which had been decimated by the boll weevil), and by 1903 he had developed hundreds of uses for peanuts in recipes. Georgia is the leading peanut producing state in the US. Approximately half of all peanuts produced in the US are grown within a 100 mile radius of Dothan, Alabama, which is home to the National Peanut Festival, established in 1938 and held each fall.
It comes as a surprise to many people that peanuts are a big crop in eastern New Mexico, where growers harvest approximately 46 million pounds of peanuts from 20,000 acres. The hot, dry weather brings the best yields, and the dry climate and elevation of more than 4,000 feet creates low humidity and low night temperatures, which result in fewer diseases. And while it sounds like a lot, 46 million pounds is only about 1 percent of all peanuts in the nation. It is, however, 90% of all Valencia peanuts grown in the US, which make for superior peanut butter than their larger Runner or Virginia counterparts.
A previous employer used Valencia peanuts for the peanut butter they manufactured, which resulted in my traveling to eastern New Mexico on a semi-regular basis. One trip had a rather long period of time between runs, which was just enough time to visit the source of another of New Mexico's cash crops, Roswell.
The highlight of the trip was visiting the UFO Museum, which opened to visitors in 1992 to educate the general public about all aspects of the UFO phenomenon. Exhibits include information on Roswell, crop circles, sightings, Area 51, government cover-ups, and alien abductions. A word to the wise: this is not high tech at all. Photos and articles from newspapers pepper the walls, along with love notes from those who have disappeared and witnessed UFOs. It was worth the five bucks just to say I had been there, since, strangely enough, it is really the only thing in town dedicated to UFOs, unless you count the McDonald's in the shape of a saucer or the streetlights shaped like alien heads.
The high point of the trip? Eating at the Cowboy Cafe; good home cooking, a friendly atmosphere and great biscuits and gravy.
Elvis, it has been said, was fond of a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich. Elvis, it has also been said, was connected to aliens. However you look at it, New Mexico has a strong Elvis connection. All you have to do is believe.
It comes as a surprise to many people that peanuts are a big crop in eastern New Mexico, where growers harvest approximately 46 million pounds of peanuts from 20,000 acres. The hot, dry weather brings the best yields, and the dry climate and elevation of more than 4,000 feet creates low humidity and low night temperatures, which result in fewer diseases. And while it sounds like a lot, 46 million pounds is only about 1 percent of all peanuts in the nation. It is, however, 90% of all Valencia peanuts grown in the US, which make for superior peanut butter than their larger Runner or Virginia counterparts.
A previous employer used Valencia peanuts for the peanut butter they manufactured, which resulted in my traveling to eastern New Mexico on a semi-regular basis. One trip had a rather long period of time between runs, which was just enough time to visit the source of another of New Mexico's cash crops, Roswell.
The highlight of the trip was visiting the UFO Museum, which opened to visitors in 1992 to educate the general public about all aspects of the UFO phenomenon. Exhibits include information on Roswell, crop circles, sightings, Area 51, government cover-ups, and alien abductions. A word to the wise: this is not high tech at all. Photos and articles from newspapers pepper the walls, along with love notes from those who have disappeared and witnessed UFOs. It was worth the five bucks just to say I had been there, since, strangely enough, it is really the only thing in town dedicated to UFOs, unless you count the McDonald's in the shape of a saucer or the streetlights shaped like alien heads.
The high point of the trip? Eating at the Cowboy Cafe; good home cooking, a friendly atmosphere and great biscuits and gravy.
Elvis, it has been said, was fond of a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich. Elvis, it has also been said, was connected to aliens. However you look at it, New Mexico has a strong Elvis connection. All you have to do is believe.
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