President Jimmy Carter was famous for peanuts — here’s why

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, has long been associated with the peanut — an enduring symbol of his humble beginnings and a testament to the value of hard work he embraced throughout his life.

Before entering the political arena, Carter, who died at 100 on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, was running his family’s peanut farm in Plains, Georgia, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

“The key to the peanut harvest was the thresher, which we called the ‘picker’ because it picked nuts from the vine,” Carter said, the NPS notes.

JIMMY CARTER SPENT ALMOST 2 YEARS IN A HOSPICE PRIOR TO HIS DEATH

“Most often it was driven by a flat belt from the rear axle or wheel truckand the dried piles were dragged to him on wooden sleds, each pulled by a mule,” Carter also said, according to the same source.

He added: “This was a large and important operation and involved all the people on site.”

President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, 2024, grew up on his family’s peanut farm, eventually growing it into a profitable business. (National Park Service)

After his father passed away, Carter quit his job US Navy in 1953.

He saw happiness in expanding the farm’s three acres of peanuts.

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Carter began to grow peanut seeds opened “Carter’s Warehouse”, which sold seeds and shells.

President Carter was a peanut farmer in Georgia before entering the political arena. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

The agricultural company also supplied corn, ginned cotton, liquid nitrogen, fertilizers and lime.

Carter’s association with peanuts became a major feature of his public image.

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It became a symbol of his bid for the White House, reflecting his commitment to representing everyday Americans.

Jimmy Carter presidential Campaign Committee he even handed out bags of peanuts to “Jimmy Carter for President” during his run against Republican Gerald Ford.

Carter’s favorite crop has followed him throughout his life. (Smithsonian Institution)

In October 1977, President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter hosted the Peanut Brigade Party.

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The first family hosted 500 Georgia fans on the south lawn for a barbecue and boiled peanutsaccording to the White House Historical Association (WHAA).