KPTH FOX 44: Local News and Entertainment for Sioux City and Siouxland | Peanut Butter Prices on the Rise

A lunchbox staple may soon seem like a luxury

A hot, dry summer in the South means you'll be paying more for peanuts and peanut butter, so you're next PB & J could cost you.

In the next few weeks the price for some brands of peanut butter could go up as much as 40%, which is bad news from store shelves to the Food Bank.

For many peanut butter is a dinner staple that's set to get more expensive.

"We use a lot of peanut butter so it's kind of, at our house, it's a big deal," says Patricia Bogner of Jefferson, South Dakota.

A peanut shortage in the south means prices for some brands like Jiff and Peter Pan will rise by nearly 40%, making it harder for grocery stores to keep prices low.

"Sometimes we can get a special buy, if you buy large quantities, or if it's coming up in one of our ads and we'll buy extra so we can put it at a lower price for a longer period of time," says Mike Bauer, Assistant Store Director at the Hy-Vee store on Hamilton Boulevard.

With higher prices expected to hit store shelves in just a few weeks, you won't be the only one paying more for your peanut butter. The Food Bank of Siouxland could also feel the crunch.

"Peanut butter is a staple, it's on our wish list," says Linda Scheid, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Siouxland.

The Food Bank goes through tons of the stuff, in the last 12 months it gave out more than 26,000 pounds, but with high demand and a higher price, that'll get harder to do.

"It's one of those domino kind of effects, where we really are concerned about our ability to make sure we have an adequate supply of something that is that important to us," says  Scheid.

To help spread out the high cost, many families may have to cut back and hope those peanut prices fall soon.

"The main consumer of the peanut butter is my grandson that stays with me quite often, and he likes the peanut butter, so I definitely will be buying but probably not near as much," says Bogner.

Those higher food prices really do hurt places like the Food Bank, especially getting this close to the holiday season.

If you'd like to donate some peanut butter you're always welcome, but donations of money are always a good idea, the Food Bank can buy food at cheaper prices than you can at the store.

If you'd like to learn how you can give, you can visit the Food Bank's web site at: http://www.siouxlandfoodbank.org/index.html

You can also visit the Food Bank's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Food-Bank-of-Siouxland-Inc/125060687507602?v=info