Every Friday on social media, we post a Farm Feature Friday showcasing one of our dedicated North Carolina farmers. Ron, Stuart and Ryan Joyce and Colton Curtis with Joyce Farms and Curtis Farms are a few of those farmers. The #FarmFeatureFriday campaign will run through December 2021 on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Be sure to tune in each Friday afternoon on social and help show your support for our local farmers!
The Barnes family has been farming peanuts since 1917. Located in Severn, Hampton Farms is owned and operated by Dallas Barnes. Besides working on his uncle’s farm on and off in high school, Dallas really did not grow up in the farming industry. It wasn’t until after graduating from N.C. State University, that Dallas realized his true calling was taking over the family peanut company. “I’ve been here over 40 years now,” Dallas said, “and I believe it’s what I was called to do.”
Hampton Farms grows a variety of peanuts, including Virginia, Valencia, Runners and Spanish. The Carolinas, and its namesake Virginia, are the primary growing regions of Virginia-type peanuts – with North Carolina being the highest acreage producer.
Peanuts are not only delicious, but are a very sustainable crop for farmers. “It only takes five gallons of water to grow an ounce of peanuts versus 80 gallons for an ounce of almonds,” said Hampton Farms brand director, Jeanne Cashman. “Although rewarding, producing a high value protein to feed growing demand, peanut farming is very challenging,” said John McElveen, Product Development Manager with Meherrin Agricultural and Chemical Company. “Growers providing superior quality peanuts, those ultimately being marketed under the Hampton Farms brand, consistently dedicate countless hours in cultivating their crop. Many factors, such as soil pH and fertility requirements, ever changing weather patterns, and plant disease concerns, dominate the attention of farmers, like no other crop. Being timely in addressing crop needs throughout the growing season, is critical in producing a quality peanut crop.”
In addition to selling the raw, in-shell peanuts, Hampton Farms sells flavored in-shell like Cajun, Hatch and other seasonal flavors in the produce section of your local grocery store. Hampton Farms also produces out-of-shell peanuts, like blister roast, salt and pepper, and honey roasted, as well as a variety of almond butters, mixed nut butters and peanut butters. All products and seasonal gifts are also available at hamptonfarms.com. Hampton Farms nuts and butters can be found at a variety of local grocery store chains, including Publix, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Food Lion, Kroger and Walmart.
In addition to grocery store chains, they provide peanuts for Five Guys restaurants, Texas Roadhouse and many baseball teams across the state and the nation. “If you are enjoying peanuts at a baseball game, odds are they are like ours,” Jeanne says.
In the future, Hampton Farms will continue its legacy of being family owned and operated as it continues to work toward its mission of becoming one of the most well-known peanut brands in the United States.
