DEAR TABBY: My uncle has been hinting that Mr. Peanut not only has a new look and sidekick, but that he has a "stunt double" and a tour! My Uncle Rick is a tough nut to crack and won't give me any details! I don't want you to spill the beans if it's going to get you into trouble, but I'm going nuts trying to find out! JIMMY BEAN, BEANS, NEW HAMPSHIRE
DEAR JIMMY: They don't call me Gabby Tabby for nuttin'! For folks that don't know the history behind the Planters Company and their mascot, Mr. Peanut, let's fill them in first. The Planters Peanut Company was formed in 1906 in Wilkes-Barr, Pennsylvania, by a peanut seller, Amedeo Obici, and his business partner, Mario Peruzzi. In 1916, they opened their first plant in Suffolk, Virginia. That same year, 13-year-old Antonio Gentile won $5 in a company-sponsored logo contest. He drew a peanut with legs and arms and named him Mr. Peanut. The top hat, monocle, spats, and cane were added by a commercial artist. 
After 94 years, in November of 2010, Mr. Peanut was given a voice, with the help of Robert Downey, Jr. Mr. Peanut is now brown instead of yellow and wears a gray flannel suit (seen in the picture above with his butler, Benson). The commercial takes place in Mr. Peanut’s house, located under a peanut vine, where he is hosting a holiday party. Suddenly, a nutcracker named Richard interrupts the festivities and, well, you can see how graciously Mr. Peanut handles the situation!
In 2011, Planters introduced Peanut Butter Doug, voiced by Kevin Dillon, to launch Planters Peanut Butter. Doug is Mr. Peanut's "stunt double" so Mr. Peanut does not get hurt while making peanut butter. Look how "smooth" Doug looks!
Watch out for the Mr. Peanut and the Planters Nutmobile on the "Naturally Remarkable" tour! Planters has partnered with Global Green to transform unused land into fun, peanut-shaped urban parks called Planters Groves. They will use locally reclaimed materials and native trees and plants from the legume family! The first Planters Groves in 2011 will be developed in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and New York City. It will be built by The Corps Network (the nation’s service and conservation corps), which employs more than 30,000 young men and women each year in addition to approximately 227,000 community volunteers each year. The bus is currently headed to Columbus, Ohio.
Inspired by how peanuts naturally give back to the earth, the new biodiesel Planters Nutmobile uses environmentally-conscious materials and is fueled by biodiesel and powered with solar energy (I guess this vehicle doesn't need to stop at any "Shell" stations!) The Planters Nutmobile will appear at all Planters Groves events and travel to an additional 12 cities to encourage Americans to grow stronger communities through service and conservation. Go to facebook.com/mrpeanut to see the full tour schedule. You've got to be impresed by these features:
- Runs on biodiesel
- Solar panels on the roof, along with a wind turbine, charge a battery that will power vehicle lights and audio when the Nutmobile is stopped, as well as provide energy for some tour stop needs
- A two-hour drive in the Nutmobile will generate and store enough wind energy to power a one-hour tour stop event
- This is the first time a wind turbine has been used to power a commercial vehicle of this nature
- Reclaimed wood (from an 1840s barn that was being torn down) was used to create the interior flooring
- Interior lighting is provided by low-energy LED lights
- Reclaimed headlights, windows and a windshield frame
I hope you enjoyed our little trip down memory lane, but because I need to hit the road as well, I'll leave you with the peanut butter and jelly song!
