Where Are Peanuts Grown in the US: 6 Leading States Revealed
Peanuts grow mainly across the southern United States, with Georgia leading every other state combined. The crop thrives where summers stretch long and hot, soil drains fast, and frost stays away for at least four months. In this guide, I cover every major peanut state and the regional patterns behind them.
Peanuts are grown across the U.S. Peanut Belt, which covers Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Georgia alone produces more than 50% of the national crop, followed by Alabama, Florida, and Texas.
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What States Grow Peanuts in the US
Peanuts grow commercially in 11 states across the South and Southwest. The USDA groups production into three regions: the Southeast, the Virginia-Carolina belt, and the Southwest. Each region grows a different peanut type based on soil and climate.
The six leading states are Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. Together they account for more than 95% of US production. If you want the wider context, where peanuts grow naturally around the world ties directly into why the South leads here.
Why Peanuts Grow in the Southern US
Peanuts need 120 to 160 frost-free days, soil temperatures above 65°F at planting, and steady moisture during pegging. Sandy loam lets the pegs push into the ground and form pods underground. The southern climate delivers all three on a reliable yearly cycle.
Northern states fall short because their growing season ends too early and their soils sit too heavy and wet. That is why peanut farms cluster from southern Virginia down to West Texas. The growing window matches the climate peanuts prefer, which I covered in a separate guide.
The Three Major US Peanut Belts
US production breaks into three regional belts. Each one has its own peanut type, soil profile, and harvest window.
Southeast Peanut Belt
This belt covers Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Farmers here grow mostly Runner peanuts, which fill peanut butter jars and snack bags. Sandy coastal-plain soils and dependable summer rain make the Southeast the top-producing region in the country.
Virginia-Carolina Belt
This belt includes North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Growers focus on Virginia-type peanuts, the larger kernels you see roasted in the shell. Cooler late-summer temperatures help flavor development. I broke down Virginia peanuts in another article.
Southwest Peanut Belt
Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico make up this region. Farmers grow mostly Spanish and Runner peanuts under center-pivot irrigation since rainfall is light. For practices that work in dry conditions, growing peanuts in Texas covers what works in the South Plains.
Top Peanut-Producing States
According to USDA ERS data, Georgia leads US peanut production by a wide margin. Here is how the leading states stack up based on recent USDA reports.
Georgia
Georgia produces more than 50% of US peanuts. In 2025, Georgia farmers planted 915,000 acres and the USDA forecast 3.64 billion pounds for the state. The coastal plain holds the sandy soil and long season the crop needs.
Alabama
Alabama ranks second most seasons. The wiregrass region around Dothan drives Runner peanut production. Alabama produced 559 million pounds in 2022 per USDA NASS.
Florida
Florida usually ranks third. Production reached 554 million pounds in 2022, with Panhandle counties carrying most of the volume. For the home-grower angle, growing them in Florida covers what residents can do in their own gardens.
Texas
Texas leads the Southwest belt. Farmers grow peanuts under irrigation in the South Plains and Rolling Plains. Spanish peanuts handle the dry climate well.
North Carolina
North Carolina anchors the Virginia-Carolina belt with 510 million pounds in 2022. Most of the crop is Virginia-type peanuts grown along the coastal plain.
South Carolina
South Carolina rounds out the top six. Production sits in the southeastern coastal counties, where hurricane risk affects yields most years.
Other States Where Peanuts Grow
Smaller commercial acreage exists in Mississippi, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Mississippi has expanded as growers shift away from cotton. Oklahoma and New Mexico depend on irrigation. Arkansas added acres after a regional sheller opened.
States outside the belt rarely produce peanuts at scale. Home gardeners in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan can still grow a small crop with short-season varieties and an early start. Knowing when to plant peanuts matters most for growers outside the traditional region.
How Much Do US Farmers Grow
The 2025 forecast set a national record. The USDA August 2025 report projected US peanut production at 7.25 billion pounds, up 12% from 2024, with record-high output in Georgia and North Carolina. Farmers planted about 1.9 million acres, the highest figure since 1991. The US ranks fourth globally, behind China, India, and Nigeria, per the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
Mistakes to Avoid When Reading Peanut Maps
A few errors come up often when people ask where peanuts grow.
- Treating peanut states as equal. Georgia alone outproduces every other state combined.
- Assuming northern states grow peanuts commercially. They do not.
- Confusing where peanuts are grown with where peanuts are eaten. Production stays southern, but peanuts ship nationwide.
FAQs about Peanuts Grown in the US
What state grows the most peanuts?
Can peanuts grow outside the South?
What region of the US grows the most peanuts?
What types of peanuts are grown in the US?
Is the US the largest peanut producer in the world?
Final Thoughts
Peanuts grow across 11 southern states, with Georgia leading the country and the Southeast belt anchoring most of the harvest. Climate, soil, and growing season decide where the crop succeeds. Once you understand the three regional belts, you understand how US peanut farming fits together.
