Peanuts and a president celebrated in Plains, Ga.

[September 28, 2009]  PLAINS, Ga. (AP) -- The small southwestern Georgia town of Plains has two famous exports: peanuts and peanut farmer-turned-president Jimmy Carter.

Both were feted Saturday with a parade and a celebration of the legume whose reputation struggled after a salmonella outbreak earlier this year.

The outbreak, linked to a plant in nearby Blakely, forced state legislators to adopt new food safety regulations after it sickened hundreds and may have caused the deaths of as many as nine people.

But the peanut is bouncing back, boosters say: Sales are up about 15 percent last month after plunging 20 percent in the wake of the salmonella scare.

"It's a miracle," said Tyron Spearman, executive director of the National Peanut Buying Points Association. "It has come back at an unbelievable pace."

The outbreak sent shudders throughout Georgia's peanut industry, which employs more than 50,000 people and packs an estimated economic impact of $2.5 billion.

For Plains, the crop is a way of life even if there are fewer farmers than there used to be.

"We've always depended on peanuts here," said Carter, who has been involved in peanut production since he was a 5-year-old on his family farm. "It's still a great factor in my life. Peanut growers, peanut producers -- we all feel like a giant family and we're celebrating one of the greatest products here."

Saturday's festival featured fried peanut butter sandwiches, peanut butter ice cream, peanut brittle, boiled peanuts, roasted peanuts and enough peanut candies to supply Halloween treats for the whole town of more than 600 people. Peanut sculptures, toys and antiques were on sale.

Peanut princesses and farmers driving antique tractors snaked along the parade route, turning to acknowledge the 39th president as he stood on the balcony of the Plains Historic Inn.

The president, who turns 85 on Thursday, said he always goes out of his way to clear his schedule so he can preside over the annual parade.

Besides, Spearman quipped, it wouldn't be much of a celebration without him. The festival's motto is: "Plains, peanuts and a president."

[Associated Press; By GREG BLUESTEIN]

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