Article by Pnut King

How are Virginia Peanuts Graded

Published on 10/16/2024 in Peanut News

In the United States, peanuts grown in the state of Virginia are known to be gigantic in size with a crunchy bite and have the best peanut flavor. Because Virginia peanuts are used both domestically and internationally, in raw, salted, and roasted forms, they come out as the most prevalent and sought-after product.

In the United States, peanuts grown in the state of Virginia are known to be gigantic in size with a crunchy bite and have the best peanut flavor. Because Virginia peanuts are used both domestically and internationally, in raw, salted, and roasted forms, they come out as the most prevalent and sought-after product. So have you ever wondered how these peanuts get graded for quality and uniformity? This article will take you through a step-by-step process to grade Virginia peanuts and tell you how raw Virginia peanuts, salted Virginia peanuts, and roasted Virginia peanuts meet the highest standards.

What Are Virginia Peanuts?
Virginia peanuts are one of the four main types of peanuts grown in the United States. These peanuts are popular because of large kernels and are often called "gourmet peanuts" because of their high quality. They are mainly grown in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Virginia peanuts grow excellently in sandy soils that drain well. They are large in size and therefore best for roasting and salting; this is why you usually find them in the market as salted Virginia peanuts or roasted Virginia peanuts.

How to Grade Virginia Peanuts Step by Step
Grading Virginia peanuts forms part of the process in peanut production. This assures that only the best reach the market. Here's the process involved in grading Virginia peanuts:

1. Harvesting the Peanuts
Harvesting has to precede grading. Virginia peanuts are usually harvested in late summer or early fall, when the peanut plants are deemed mature, and its peanuts have attained full size. From harvesting, there is digging of the peanut plants from the ground accompanied by drying for a few days. This is because of avoiding this critical effect of moisture on the quality of the peanut.Once collected and dried, peanuts are graded depending on size and quality.

2. First cleaning and sorting
First grading is an activity of cleaning followed by sorting. This is a process where the peanuts are freed from dirt, debris, and other foreign material that may have entered while being harvested. Special cleaning equipment is used for this procedure, leaving only the peanuts inside.The peanuts undergo size separation through vibrating belts both after cleaning and sorting according to size. Size separation is a critical factor upon which the grade depends.

3. Visual Inspection
Once cleaned and graded, the peanuts face a visual inspection. From this stage, visual defects -crushed shells, discoloration, mold- are sorted out. This is more critical for raw Virginia peanuts, which are sold with no imperfections because of what customers expect.They then seek visual signs of disease or insect damage that would reduce the quality of the peanuts. Only those that have passed the visual inspection are accepted in the lot.

4. Kernel Size Classification
It is well-known that peanuts from Virginia often have very large kernels, which is one of the factors on which grading will rely. In general, higher grades are given to larger peanuts, and larger kernel sizes command a premium for products such as roasted Virginia peanuts or salted Virginia peanuts.This separation is by a mechanical separator that separates the peanuts into groups including jumbo, extra large and medium. Even in the group, each may have a required size that the peanuts may need to reach.

5. Moisture Content Testing
Moisture content is one of the important grading criteria especially considering raw Virginia peanuts. Peanuts are likely to decay or grow molds if the moisture content is high. Therefore, it is crucial for peanuts to undergo moisture content test before they can be considered final by utilizing the required equipment.Peanuts within 7% to 8% moisture are considered of high quality and passed for further processes. The others, which have higher moisture levels, will undergo drying once more or rejected altogether.

6. Aflatoxin Testing
Aflatoxin is a natural toxin produced by certain forms of molds, and if consumed in adequate amounts, can prove harmful; therefore, testing for aflatoxin is an important part of grading all peanuts, whether they are the raw, salted, roasted Virginia, etc.A sample of peanuts is analyzed for the level of aflatoxin levels in a laboratory. For a peanut, if the level is below the permissible limit, a given safety authority approves the sale of the peanut. However, if the level exceeds the acceptable limit, peanuts are rejected and hence cannot be sold.

7. Final Quality Check and Packaging
It is only after all the above steps have been passed that the final step of quality checking is done. In other words, only the best peanuts get to the market. Quality checking is done to check whether there are any defects or issues that may have been overlooked in previous checks on the peanuts.
After all grades are determined, peanuts will be bagged according to grade. Gourmet bags are assigned to high-grade peanuts, and low-grade peanuts are put to peanut butter or other processing.

Why Grading Matters
There are several reasons why grading Virginia peanuts is vital. First, it ensures consistency and good quality for the consumer. Be it raw Virginia peanuts, salted Virginia peanuts, or roasted Virginia peanuts; grading will ensure that the peanuts meet certain specifications.
Secondly, grading aids in ascertaining the value of the crop as produced by farmers and processors. A higher grade of peanuts fetches a premium price in the market while indirectly benefiting the producers and retailers.Grading is also important in the food safety aspect. Aflatoxins and moisture content testing by grading guarantee that the peanuts are safe for consumption.

In a nutshell, grading Virginia peanuts involves detail-to-date process and important steps in the processing from gathering until cleaning and particularly from moisture testing to aflatoxin analysis. Whether you like raw Virginia peanuts, salted Virginia peanuts, or roasted Virginia peanuts, you can be sure that they are graded to the highest standards. Grading not only protects consumers but also ensures that farmers and processors get a fair value for the hard work they put into their commodities. Following these high standards made Virginia peanuts remain as the top choice of peanut lovers worldwide.