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Salmonella Scare Rattles Peanut County

Farmers report fewer contracts

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 8, 2009 5:50 PM CST

(Newser) – A Georgia county that boasts a big peanut in its courthouse square is getting crunched by the salmonella outbreak, the Los Angeles Times reports. In Blakely-Early County, Ga.—the self-proclaimed "Peanut Capital of the World"—peanut plant workers are losing jobs and farmers are getting fewer contracts. Then there's the recession. "We're in hot water," Blakely Mayor Ric Hall said.

The Peanut Corp. of America—fingered by the FDA as the salmonella source—recently laid off 50 in Blakely. A paper production plant, the county's biggest employer, is dropping at least another 100. But Peanut Corp. inspires the lion's share of anger and shame. "Everybody is looking at us thinking that we are unsanitary people, and we're not," a part-time peanut worker said.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (3)]

A peanut monument adorns the square in front of the Early County Courthouse in Blakely, Ga. The peanut butter plant that produced the suspect peanut paste is a major employer here. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)

A "Peanut Proud Blakely Georgia" banner adorns a side road to the the square by the Early County Courthouse. The town was thrust into the center of a nationwide salmonella outbreak. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)

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Being the small agricultural community that we are, the prospect of finding new employment is virtually impossible. People here don't have much, and the layoffs make it even more devastating. - Blakely Mayor Ric Hall

Everybody is looking at us thinking that we are unsanitary people, and we're not. One company shouldn't put a label on the whole town. - peanut worker John Freeman

When they found salmonella in spinach, peppers and tomatoes, people said they would never eat them again, and guess what? We're right back in there eating salads. I think the same thing will happen with peanuts. - Blakely Mayor Ric Hall

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Salmonella Scare Rattles Peanut County