Editing Peanut (section)

==== North America ====
[[File:Roasted Peanuts (2019).jpg|thumb|Fried curry peanuts]]
The state of Georgia leads the US in peanut production, with 49 percent of the nation's peanut acreage and output. In 2014, farmers cultivated 591,000 acres of peanuts, yielding of 2.4 billion pounds. The most famous peanut farmer was [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Sumter County, Georgia]] who became US president in 1976.<ref>John Beasley, "Peanuts" ''New Georgia Encyclopedia'' (2019) [https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/peanuts/ online] </ref>

In the US and Canada, peanuts are used in candies, cakes, cookies, and other sweets. Individually, they are eaten [[dry roasting|dry-roasted]] with or without salt. Ninety-five percent of Canadians eat peanuts or peanut butter, with the average consumption of {{convert|3|kg|lb|frac=2}} of peanuts per person annually, and 79% of Canadians consume peanut butter weekly.<ref name="pbc">{{cite web| title= Peanuts in Canada| website= peanutbureau.ca| url= http://www.peanutbureau.ca/all-about-peanuts/peanuts-in-canada.html| publisher= Peanut Bureau of Canada| access-date= December 6, 2017| date= 2017| archive-date= December 7, 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171207015440/http://www.peanutbureau.ca/all-about-peanuts/peanuts-in-canada.html| url-status= dead}}</ref> In the United States, peanuts and peanut butter are central to American dietary practices, and are typically considered as [[comfort food]]s.<ref>{{cite web| first1=Karina | last1= Martinez-Carter|title=As American as peanut butter| url= https://psmag.com/social-justice/american-peanut-butter-73234| website= psmag.com |publisher= Pacific Standard|access-date=December 6, 2017|date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> Peanuts were sold at fairs or by pushcart operators through the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Andrew F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-WcKK01H1cC |title=Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat |date=2012 |publisher= ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-39393-8 |page=41 |language=en}}</ref> Peanut butter is a common peanut-based food, representing half of the American total peanut consumption and $850 million in annual retail sales.<ref name="npb">{{cite web|title=History of Peanuts & Peanut Butter| website= nationalpeanutboard.org | url= http://nationalpeanutboard.org/peanut-info/history-peanuts-peanut-butter.htm| publisher=US National Peanut Board|access-date=December 6, 2017|date=2017}}</ref> [[Peanut soup]] is found on restaurant menus in the southeastern states.<ref>{{cite web|title=The history of peanut soup|url=http://thevirginiamarketplace.blogspot.ca/2012/09/peanut-soup-mix-considered-asouthern.html| publisher= The Virginia Marketplace|access-date= December 6, 2017|date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> In some southern portions of the US, peanuts are boiled for several hours until soft and moist.<ref>{{cite web|title=16 Fun Facts about Peanuts & Peanut Butter; Number 13| url= http://nationalpeanutboard.org/peanut-info/fun-facts.htm| website= nationalpeanutboard.org |publisher=US National Peanut Board|access-date=December 6, 2017|date=2017}}</ref> Peanuts are also [[Deep-fried peanuts|deep-fried]], sometimes within the shell. Per person, Americans eat {{convert|6|lb|kg|order=flip|abbr=on|}} of peanut products annually, spending a total of $2 billion in peanut retail purchases.<ref name="npb" />