South East Farm Press Logo

Premium Peanut, with more than 400 grower-owners, will build an operation in Orangeburg County in the south-central part of the South Carolina.

Farm Press Staff

March 29, 2022

2 Min Read
shelled-peanuts-premium-peanut-GA-brad-haire-a.jpg
Shelled peanuts at Premium Peanut in Douglas, Ga.Brad Haire

Premium Peanut signed an agreement with DP World to purchase land to expand its operations into South Carolina.

The company, with more than 400 grower-owners, will build an operation in Gateway Park in Orangeburg County in the south-central part of the state.

“We are thrilled to be able to make this announcement, solidifying our ongoing expansion into South Carolina,” said Karl Zimmer, President and CEO of Premium Peanut. “We think there is no better place to expand and are eager to return more of the peanuts’ value back into the pockets of the growers in South Carolina. Keeping these hard-earned dollars in local communities is a tremendous benefit of our grower-owned model.”

With financing in place from Truist, according to a March 28 statement from the company, Premium Peanut plans to break ground on the first major peanut shelling facility and seed treatment facility in the state of South Carolina. Premium Peanut will invest $64 million in the project and bring 130 new jobs to the area and provide additional local shelling capacity and allow South Carolina peanut growers the opportunity to be a part of a cooperative model.

Premium Peanut is based in Douglas, Ga., where it operates the largest and newest peanut shelling facility in the world. The grower-owned co-op began shelling with the 2015 crop, and, according to the March 28 statement has paid out over $50 million in dividends back to its grower-owners.

Premium Peanut’s customers are major snack, candy, and peanut butter manufacturers domestically, as well as customers in more than 30 countries around the world.

In the statement, the company said for those interested in the Premium Peanut’s South Carolina expansion to contact Rachel Santos or the Palmetto Peanut Buying Point. The company will be at the SC Works Job Fair in Orangeburg on April 7.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like