24 S G M A G A Z I N E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 Few businesses are modeled to prosper and serve a market like Premium Peanuts. They have a near perfect business model, take the already symbiotic relationship between grower and buyer, and combine that relationship. - DONNY BRADSHAW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Peanut Production Brings Economic Boost to South Georgia It is no surprise that peanuts are big business in Georgia. With more than 1.39 tons produced annually, Georgia’s peanut industry supports approximately 50,000 jobs and contributes more $2 billion to the state’s economy each year. South Georgia has captured its share of the booming peanut processing industry with the recent expansion of four peanut- based on companies in Coffee and Ben Hill counties. Premium Peanuts, located in Coffee County, recently completed a $14 million facility to filter crude peanut oil. The state- of-the-art facility has the capacity to produce more than 3 million gallons of peanut oil per year. Premium Peanuts owns and operates the largest peanut shelling facility in the world. The shelling facility, which opened in 2016, is grower-owned and was designed to integrate the peanut production process, stabilize the market for growers in the region, and ensure a steady supply of peanuts at a competitive cost. In addition to the new peanut oil facility, the growth of Premium Peanuts has prompted the company to expand its shelling operations to seven days a week. With the opening of the peanut oil facility and increased The Lodge Farm Photo by Jay Blaton