Peanut Butter Prices on the Rise

By: Victoria Phillips
peanut butter jar

Buyers beware: That peanut butter you’ve been snacking on since childhood is soon to undergo a price hike. Sweltering temperatures and parched soil in Peanut Belt states like Georgia and Texas are to blame for the spoiled peanut crop.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this year’s peanut crop is predicted to be about 3.61 billion pounds, 13 percent smaller than last year.

Peanut butter powerhouse J.M. Smucker Co., who dominates 45 percent of the peanut butter market, expects to raise prices by 30 percent in November, making that $3.19 jar of Jif $4.15, says a Cleveland article.

Although this year's peanut crop won't be harvested for a month or two, farmers who have pulled up their plants came away disappointed after finding very few peanuts.

Also quoted in the article is Patrick Archer, president of the American Peanut Council in Alexandria, Va., who says that although a lot could change between now and harvest, price hikes at the supermarket are inevitable.

Next Up

Does Peanut Butter Go Bad?

Peanut butter is a staple for sandwiches, sweet treats, and snacking, but does it expire? Here are the facts.

Should You Refrigerate Peanut Butter?

How quickly can you make it through your jar?

Is Peanut Butter Good for You?

Find out whether or not you should... go nuts.

Which Is Better for You: Almond Butter or Peanut Butter?

We break down the differences between the two popular nut butters.

Your Weekend Cooldown: Frozen Peanut Butter Bites

If the summer heat has you bogged down, take refuge in this easy-to-make frozen dessert.

The Best Peanut Butters, Tested by Food Network Kitchen

We tasted more than 20 peanut butters to find the best ones for your lunch box.

Select Jif Peanut Butter Products Have Been Voluntarily Recalled

The list of affected products is long; make sure to check your pantry.

I Love to Cook With Peanut Butter, Thanks to My Childhood in West Africa

Growing up in Sierra Leone, it was such a gift to be immersed in the culture, and my memories from that time still inspire my cooking, even decades after migrating to the United States. My peanut butter chicken kabobs play on flavors of West Africa — here’s how to make them, and some more ideas for cooking with peanut butter.

The Rise of Store Brands

Here are some of the most-popular store brands and a few of their most-impressive products.

What's New