The Georgia Peanut Commission and the National Peanut Buying Points Association hosted the 2013 Farmer Appreciation Day at the GPC office in Tifton, Ga., Nov. 25. Georgia peanut farmers, industry representatives and state and federal policymakers attended the event. The event helped to celebrate the hard work of Georgia's farmers just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Country-fried peanuts, boiled peanuts, grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and other refreshments were available for attendees throughout the day. In addition to the hosts, the event was sponsored and peanut products were donated by the National Peanut Board, Georgia Farm Bureau, M&M Mars, Snyders Lance, Mckee Foods and Hershey Foods.

Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Armond Morris thinks the Farmer Appreciation Day could not have come at a more perfect time of year to show gratitude for Georgia's farmers. "It's harvest time in Georgia, and what a better time to celebrate and honor the men and women who feed and clothe us than the week of Thanksgiving," Morris says. "We were pleased to have nearly 100 visitors to the office."

During the program, U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., provided greetings to attendees. "America's farmers deserve our thanks every day, and I'm pleased I was in Tifton today to celebrate Georgia's peanut farmers. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will continue to work hard on behalf of farmers and agribusiness to keep this vital sector thriving and contributing to Georgia's economic health. Ultimately, the reason I am in Washington is to represent those who work the land each and every day to provide the highest quality agricultural products in the world."

The GPC represents 3,500 peanut farmers in Georgia and carries out programs in the areas of research, promotion and education.

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