Peanuts harvested in the fall are kept in dry storage at Sunland for processing throughout the year. Another 40 to 50 workers are hired seasonally, when the plant's operating 24 hours a day during the fall harvest. He credits the success in part to consumers who are rediscovering peanut butter as a healthy source of protein with zero cholesterol. With the aroma from roasting peanuts filling the air, it's no wonder High Plains residents crave their most celebrated crop. Peanut harvest is honored each year with the Peanut Valley Festival at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.
Kids play peanut games and local cooks whip up entries for the food fair contest.
The breads, cakes, candies, cookies and pies must all contain peanuts. Year-round, peanut lovers can get their peanut fix at Pat's Twin Cronnies in Portales. But the recipe is kept secret. Sweet, red peanut patties wrapped in plastic can be purchased at local stores. Six feet in diameter, the concoction weighed 350 pounds.