Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 15, 1993                   TAG: 9309110030
SECTION: VIRGINIA'S FINEST                    PAGE: VF-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PEANUT IMPORTANT TO STATE'S HISTORY AND ECONOMY

The peanut can be traced as far back as 3500 B.C. to the South American Incas. Spanish conquistadors, impressed with this amazing food, brought it back to Europe and spread its cultivation to Africa where the peanut thrived in the western tropical regions.

Peanuts came with the slave trade to North America. Called nguba in the Congo (the likely origin of the term goober), slaves planted peanuts throughout the southern United States. While early uses consisted of mainly animal feed and oils, the outbreak of the Civil War created the first notable consumption of peanuts as a human food source.

George Washington Carver is considered the father of the peanut industry because of his significant contributions. His research into peanuts began in 1903 at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, and he dramatically changed the face of southern farming. He made vast improvements in horticulture and developed over 300 uses for peanuts including such non-food applications as detergents, salves, shoe and metal polishes, shaving cream, face cream, soap, paint, shampoo, ink, axle grease and medicine.

Ingenious uses of peanuts still exist in modern times. Shells, skins and kernels are used in the manufacture of a variety of non-food products such as wallboard, fireplace logs, kitty litter and paper. Peanuts are also found in the ingredients of such things as cosmetics, rubber and linoleum.

Peanuts are legumes, from the same family as beans, peas, lentils, etc. Peanuts contain 26 percent protein (a higher percentage than eggs, dairy products and many cuts of meat and fish) and no cholesterol. Dollar for dollar, you can't find much to beat a peanut for nutrition.

Peanuts contain 13 vitamins including A, B group, C and E as well as 26 minerals including calcium, zinc, iron and boron - essential for bone growth and reduction of the chances of osteoporosis. And peanuts' 6.4 percent fiber content makes them a superior dietary choice.

Peanuts contain what nutritionists refer to as the "good" fats. Fats, or lipids, are important energy sources in any diet. However, saturated fats have been linked to elevated risks of heart disease. Peanuts are an excellent source of unsaturated fat, which research suggests may be beneficial in reducing cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease.

Peanut butter was invented by a St. Louis physician in the 1890s as an easily digestible, high protein food for his elderly patients. Today, peanut butter remains a healthy food choice and is responsible for over half of the consumption of U.S. peanuts.

Much of Virginia's success as an agricultural supplier can be summed up in a nutshell - the peanut shell to be exact. Virginia is a major supplier of peanuts throughout the world, selling almost $64 million annually. Because of their large kernels, Virginia peanuts have acquired the reputation for being the "Cadillac" of peanuts. This larger kernel peanut thrives in the sandy soils of Virginia's southeastern "peanut belt."

One way to be sure you're buying high-quality Virginia peanuts is to look for the Virginia's Finest label when shopping. The following Virginia's Finest participants offer peanuts and peanut products: Adams Peanuts, Aster Nut Products, Inc., Belmont Peanuts of Southampton, Fairmont Snacks Group, Inc., Felts Peanut Farms Homestyle Peanuts, Granny's Peanuts, Hub's, The Nutcracker Peanut and Gift Shop, The Peanut Patch, The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg, The Virginia Diner, Virginia Peanuts, Inc., Wakefield Peanut Co., Inc., Waller Whittemore & Company, Whitley Peanut Factory and Zuni Gourmet Peanuts. For a complimentary guide to all Virginia's Finest products, look for the coupon elsewhere in this publication.

The following recipe combines the creamy flavor of Virginia peanuts with another significant Virginia agricultural product, chicken, in a easy-to-prepare dish your family will enjoy.

\ VIRGINIA PEANUT CHICKEN SKEWERS\ 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, approximately 6 oz. each 32 8-inch\ bamboo skewers peanut sauce (recipe below)\ 1 green pepper, diced\ 1 red pepper, diced\ 1/2 cup chopped Virginia dry roasted peanuts\ 2 green onions, diced\ Cut each chicken breast lengthwise into 8 strips. Skewer through middle of each strip lengthwise. Arrange on large, sided cookie sheet with exposed wood on same side of each. Spread peanut sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with diced peppers, chopped peanuts and green onions. Bake in 350-degree oven until\ chicken starts to pull up on skewer, about 20 minutes. Peanut Sauce recipe\ follows:\ PEANUT SAUCE\ 1 cup creamy peanut butter\ 1 cup hoisen sauce\ 1 cup dark brown sugar\ 2 tablespoons soy sauce\ 2 tablespoons sesame oil\ Combine all ingredients and mix with spoon until smooth.