Peanut growers produce a crop that is in high demand and enjoyed by millions of Americans. Peanuts can be made into everything from peanut butter to peanut candy—or they can be enjoyed roasted or raw.

Growing peanuts is not hard. In fact, elementary school students often grow peanuts as school projects. But before you can become a peanut wholesaler, there are a few things you will need to learn to ensure you have a quality crop. Your peanut growers education and training should include:

1. How to identify the best climates and soils for peanut producers;

2. Basic techniques for growing peanuts;

3. And advanced tips to make sure your peanut crop grows healthy and strong.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover the best climates for peanut producers

Peanuts are native to South America, but grow well in parts of the United States. They require a long summer growing season with at least 110 warm days. They also grow well in humid conditions. This makes states such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Texas ideal places to grow wholesale bulk peanuts.

I recommend: Check out eHow for a good overview of how to grow peanuts and what climates work best for growing peanuts. Virginia-Carolina Peanut Promotions is another good resource for learning about the proper climate and soil for peanut growing.

Learn about proper techniques used by peanut growers

Peanut growers know a successful crop starts with getting good peanut seeds. The seeds need to be planted in loose, well-drained soil that is frequently cultivated. In 110 to 150 days, peanut plants will be ready to dig up from the ground. After a few weeks of drying, they will be ready to eat.

I recommend: The gardening section of LoveToKnow walks you through all the steps of peanut growing, from planting to care to harvest. HowToSite.Net discusses proper techniques for sowing, tending, harvesting and preparing peanuts to eat.

Get advanced advice from experienced peanut producers

If you want to grow and sell wholesale peanuts, then you're going to need more than a basic understanding of the peanut growing process. You'll need to know about advanced topics such as buying peanut inoculant, proper use of lime and boron deficiencies. Fortunately, expert peanut growers are more than willing to share the knowledge they've developed over the years.

I recommend: Southeast Farm Press from Penton Media contains excellent advice from expert peanut growers. The website explains how to fertilize, plant and harvest peanuts in a way that will maximize your yield. The archives of Peanut Grower magazine, published by One Grower Publishing, are another excellent resource to learn about topics such as high moisture grading, use of pesticides and wholesale peanut prices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to learn traditional peanut growing techniques, then contact organic peanut growers in your area. They are probably more than willing to help you out.

Peanuts are the most well-known and loved nut in the country and around the world. Peanut growers dot the South, offering an array of wholesale raw peanuts, bulk peanuts, wholesale peanuts and peanut seeds. Peanuts are a perfect partner of chocolate, cookie bases, and marshmallow creme as they offer rich flavor, texture and a natural sweetness.

Choose from raw, organic, bulk, or wholesale peanuts in multiple states of processing including shelled, roasted, salted or just raw. To find the best peanut producers and purchase the peanuts most popular with your customers, you should:

1. Survey your customers about the types of peanut candies or other food containing peanuts that they prefer in order to help you determine which ones to offer in your food business.

2. Purchase peanuts from a reputable peanut grower that offers quick service and quality guarantees.

3. Ask for wholesale peanuts, shipping discounts and other deals to save money and in turn pass the savings on to your customers.

Action Steps
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Decide on the types of peanuts you need for your recipes or treats for gourmet gifts

Before looking for a peanut grower, you should narrow down the varieties of peanuts you need. If you want to leave your options open, find a peanut producer with many offerings and a quick shipping policy to get your custom orders to you quickly. If you have the room or a greenhouse, consider growing peanuts yourself.

I recommend: Attend the Southern Peanut Growers Conference put on by the Southern Peanut Growers Federation to meet peanut growers and find out the latest in peanut processing and growing. Check out the Internet Candy Society's listing of the most popular peanut candies of all time to help you write a candy recipe to reflect those flavors.

Purchase peanuts or peanut seeds from a reputable peanut grower

When looking for a peanut supplier, find one with a large variety of peanuts that are fresh picked. You want a grower who has been in the business awhile and can offer solid references. If you are looking for custom peanuts, find organic peanut growers offering a large variety of peanut breeds and processing applications such as roasting.

I recommend: High Mesa, Inc. sells peanuts in a variety of bulk sizes fresh from the farm to you. They offer a variety of processes, including shelled and raw in the Valencia and Virginia breeds. The American Peanut Growers Group, LLC is a group of peanut growers that work together to offer the highest quality peanuts.

Ask for wholesale peanuts, shipping discounts and other deals to save money

Don't be afraid to ask for discounts or purchase through a wholesale peanut grower. You should be entitled to discounts if the peanuts are not fresh, if it's the end of the season, if you are purchasing a large quantity or if you offer to pick up the peanuts instead of having them delivered.

I recommend: Highland Hills Farms, LTD offers wholesale raw nuts to roasters and confectioners. They also offer wholesale bulk prices on salted, roasted, and cinnamon roasted (their specialty). Bulk Foods offers a larger variety of peanuts available in bulk quantities that can be ordered online and shipped directly to your shop.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To save even more money, invest in a peanut roasting machine and roast your own peanuts to each recipe's specification.

There are many things to take into consideration in order to grow peanuts properly. The soil and environment need to be just right in order for germination to occur, which is why peanuts are typically grown only in certain parts of the world.

These conditions may vary depending on the variety of peanuts you are trying to grow. And once the peanuts are grown, cultivation of the kernels is only half of the battle. Peanut kernels are encased in not one, but two, materials including the hull and the skin. Because of this, the peanuts need to go through more than one process before the kernels can be roasted, salted or sold wholesale.

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Peg

The peg helps the peanut embryo to bury itself into the soil prior to it producing its fruit. The peg resembles a root and begins to grow once the flower blossom on the peanut plant dies.

I recommend: Utah State University Extension describes the peanut growing process and how the peg plays an important role.

Seed germination

Seed germination occurs at the time a seedling emerges from the ground after the embryo has buried itself. Germination is the first active step after a period of the peanut seeds remaining dormant.

I recommend: The Department of Entomology at Iowa State University explains the proper conditions for peanut seed germination.

Runners

Runners have become an increasingly popular type of peanut. Their uniform small kernel size and ability to ward off potentially harmful viruses make this variety an important commodity. Many peanut products, including candies and peanut butter, are being made using the runner variety.

I recommend: Peanuts Peanuts Peanuts gives some history of the runner peanuts. Southeast Farm Press from Penton Media details a case when runners were the optimal peanut variety choice.

Peanut kernels, seeds, cotyleden

The peanut kernel, also referred to as the cotyleden or seed, is a key part of the embryo of the peanut. This is the cultivated raw part of the peanut that is actually consumed. In its most raw form, the kernel is covered by a reddish layer of skin.

I recommend: Red Dog Peanut provides a detailed diagram of all of the parts of a peanut.

Hull, shell

The hull is the outside shell protecting the kernels. This fibrous part of the peanut is often overlooked for its usefulness, but can be made into flour as well as used for non-food items such as plastic composite.

I recommend: The Department of Food Science & Technology at The University of Georgia has some information on possible uses for the hulls.

Blanching

Blanching is the process in which the red skin is taken off the peanut kernel. Machines are often used for this process.

I recommend: Virginia-Carolina Peanut Promotions describes what is involved in the blanching process.

Peanut producers need to stay current with changes to the industry, especially if you are growing peanuts for consumption. With so many people across the country allergic to the legumes, you must stay on top of any FDA-based changes.

Since any industry that works with food can change constantly, it's best to utilize more than one news source. Use the Internet to take advantage of these offers. Consider the following when investigating peanut growers news and trends:

1. Follow trends online for organic peanut growers.

2. Read through magazines or journals geared toward peanut companies.

3. Attend conferences meant for those in the wholesale raw peanuts business.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read through sites relating to bulk peanuts and recalls

Peanuts have been in the news recently due to recalls and possible contamination. It's best to pay attention to sites catering to safety, to ensure that you are in compliance. Check to see if the sites offer instant e-mail access, in which you are e-mailed directly once recalls are issued.

I recommend: Pay attention to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its site regarding peanut recalls. The National Peanut Board is an excellent way to stay informed of any recalls and can guide you as to what you should do in case of another recall.

Subscribe to peanut wholesaler magazines

Take your time to sort through the magazines and journals that are dedicated to peanut growers, peanut companies and wholesale peanut distributors. Don't get overwhelmed as you sort through all of them. You should also check to see if certain publication websites have newsletters that can be sent directly to your e-mail inbox. This way, you can keep current and advised of any changes that occur between issues.

I recommend: Look to the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and its Southeastern Peanut Farmer publication, which provides news six times per year for peanut growers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina.

Maintain contact with peanut producers while attending conferences

Consider attending a conference or two hosted by leaders in the peanut industry. Usually sponsored by associations or organizations associated with the wholesale peanuts industry, these conferences are an ideal place to be notified of any changes to the business. You can also network with others who share a common interest.

I recommend: Visit the Peanut & Tree Nut Processors Association to learn about its convention dates as well as any other information provided in its news releases. The American Peanut Council lists its upcoming events on a calendar as well as its annual winter and spring conferences.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Search online to locate columns by leaders in the peanuts wholesale industry. As an invaluable resource, these columnists offer their unbiased opinions about the industry.