Where Peanuts Grow

Peanuts are grown in the warm climates of Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America. More than half of the world's peanuts are grown in India and China. The United States produces about 3% of the world's acreage of peanuts, but grows nearly 10% of the world’s crop because of higher yields per acre. Other major peanut growing countries include Senegal, Sudan, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Malawi, and Nigeria.

In the United States, the major peanut producing states that grow 99% of the U. S. peanut crop: Georgia (which grows about 42% of all U. S. peanuts), followed by Texas, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, Oklahoma and New Mexico. These ten states are grouped into three regions. The Southeast Region (Georgia-Florida-Alabama-Mississippi-Arkansas) primarily grows mostly the medium-kernels Runner peanuts. The Southwest region (Texas-Oklahoma-New Mexico) grows Spanish, Runner Valencia and some Virginia type varieties. The Virginia-Carolina region (Virginia-North Carolina-South Carolina) predominately grows the large-kerneled Virginia type peanut. About 68% of all U. S. peanuts are grown in the Southeast region, with the Virginia/Carolina area accounting for about 13%, and the Southwest region at about 18%.