Planters peanuts launched the inaugural Naturally Remarkable Planters Awards to celebrate American peanut farmers who are implementing sustainable practices and making positive social changes in their local communities.


Planterspeanuts launched the inaugural Naturally Remarkable Planters Awards to celebrate American peanut farmers who are implementing sustainable practices and making positive social changes in their local communities.  

Through April 15, Planters is accepting nominations for the Naturally Remarkable Planters Awards. Entries will be judged on three key criteria- sustainability, effectiveness and originality.

"The Naturally Remarkable Planters Awards is our way of celebrating and supporting America's farmers who are making innovative and impactful changes in how peanuts are grown," says Steve Dumas, senior associate brand manager and sustainability lead forPlanters, which is produced by Kraft Foods, Inc., Northfield, Ill. "Peanuts naturally give back to the earth and the environmental strides these farmers are making help provide inspiration for Planters' own sustainability journey."

The Naturally Remarkable Planters Awards is a peanut-industry collaboration between Planters,the National Peanut Board, Atlanta, and peanut shellers. A panel of judges from the peanut industry, including agriculture academics and representatives from the National Peanut Board and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., will select three regional award winners representing the Southeast, Virginia-Carolinas and Southwest regions.

"We welcome the opportunity to support the efforts ofPlanters in recognizing America's peanut farmers," says Marshall Lamb, research leader, national peanut research lab, USDA. "These farmers are taking great strides in employing sustainable production practices, embracing new technologies and supporting local communities and are a great example of American agricultural success and environmental stewardship."

Each of the three winners will receive a three-day trip to New York City for themselves and up to three family members to attend aPlanters Grove event and award ceremony in August. They will also receive a donation of $10,000 in their name toward a project to revitalize community land in the location of their choice.

The awards are an integral component of the Planters"Naturally Remarkable" tour, which kicked off in February and encourages Americans to grow stronger communities through service and conservation. Along with the awards program,Planterswill transform unused land intoPlanters Groves-fun, peanut-shaped, recreational spaces designed by renowned landscape architect Ken Smith. Part urban revitalization, part art, these public spaces will be entirely built by and for local communities led by Washington, D.C.-based The Corps Network's national network of 30,000 young men and women engaged in service and conservation work. Four Planters Groves are planned for New Orleans, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and New York City, the last of which will include an award ceremony for the three winners of the Naturally Remarkable Planters Awards.

To nominate yourself or a peanut farmer, go to www.PlantersAwards.com and download the nomination application. To follow thePlanters"Naturally Remarkable" tour, get exclusive updates and learn how to participate, "like" Mr. Peanut on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mrpeanut.