UF/IFAS Escambia Extension's annual Peanut Butter Challenge is underway, with donations accepted now through Monday, Nov. 24. Coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension, the food drive is a friendly competition among Florida counties to support local food pantries throughout the state.

Community members are asked to bring unopened, unexpired peanut butter jars of any size to the following locations in Escambia County:

• UF/IFAS Escambia Extension Office - 3740 Stefani Road
• Holy Spirit Catholic Church - 10650 Gulf Beach Highway
• St. Mary Catholic Church - 401 Van Pelt Lane
• Epps Christian Center - 2300 N. Pace Blvd.
• First Baptist Church of Ferry Pass - 8350 Caminitti Lane
• Molino Library - 6450-A Highway 95A
• Farm Bureau - 153 FL-97
• ProSource of Pensacola - 33 Brent Lane, #104
• Escambia County Public Safety - 6575 N. "W" Street
• Perdido Bay Methodist Church - 13660 Innerarity Point Road
• Winn Dixie - 1550 S. Highway 29
• Escambia County Administration - 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor
• Escambia County Sheriff's Office - 1700 W. Leonard St.
• Pensacola Interstate Fair (Sunday, Oct. 26 only)

Escambia County Extension ranked among the top collectors statewide for the 2024 annual Peanut Butter Challenge, collecting over 1,500 jars of peanut butter to earn fourth place in the state and second place in the district. Read more about the 2024 Peanut Butter challenge here.

"We're really excited to participate in this year's Peanut Butter Challenge," Escambia Extension Services Director Nick Simmons said. "Peanuts are one of our main crops in Northwest Florida, so we know firsthand how important peanuts and peanut butter are to the community. We encourage the community to participate and help our local food banks, especially as we get ready to enter the holiday season."

In addition to its nutritional value and long shelf life, peanut butter was originally selected as the donation item as a way to highlight Florida's peanut productions. Peanuts, especially those grown for peanut butter, are a major crop in Florida, contributing $149 million to the state's economy in 2024.

Along with the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association and the Florida Peanut Federation, located in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of Florida, will contribute to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions.

For more information about how to participate in the Peanut Butter Challenge, visit sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/peanutbutter.