By Ashton Pellom
This story was originally published in PQ 50.
Hailing from the heart of Alabama, Jason Weber has deep roots in the state's agricultural heritage. Since 2000, he has carried on his family's farming legacy, which began when his grandfather first settled in the region in the late 1960s. Alongside peanuts, Jason and his family cultivate a diverse array of crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat, across their 300-acre spread.
Now over two decades into his peanut-farming journey, Jason has emerged as a passionate advocate, determined to reintroduce this nutritious staple onto school menus throughout Alabama.
“Peanuts just made sense for our farm," Jason explains. "They provided a great rotation with our cotton and grains, and the income potential was better than just sticking to traditional crops."
But Jason's motivation goes beyond the bottom line. As a father of four, he's seen firsthand how much kids love peanut butter and jelly.
"Most children would jump at the chance to have peanut butter in the cafeteria,” Jason said. “The challenge is convincing school nutrition directors that it can be done safely."
That's where Jason steps in. He's leveraged his position on the Alabama Peanut Producers Board to educate school leaders on best practices for managing peanut allergies.
"It's about finding the right balance — we can't just ban peanuts outright because a few students have allergies,” Jason said.
What’s Jason's advice to other farmers who want to get involved?
"Take every opportunity you can to promote peanuts in a positive light,” Jason said. “Whether it's talking to your local school board or connecting with the state peanut association, your voice and experience matter."
He also encourages farmers to be open about their operations.
"The more we can learn from each other, the better off our whole industry will be," said Jason.
With Jason leading the charge, the future's looking bright for peanuts in Alabama schools, and you can bet his children will be the first in line for cafeteria peanut butter and jelly.