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The
Peanut Patch Story
The Peanut Patch has
come a long way from it's humble beginnings. It all started after World
War II when Gerry and Franny Didier homesteaded some property on the Yuma
Mesa. The soil on the mesa is much sandier than in the surrounding
valleys, and proved to be less than suitable for traditional crops of
cotton, grains, and produce. The growers searched for crops that would be
well suited for these challenging conditions. Citrus grown in the
warmth of Arizona sunshine became a great recourse and today still
represents a vital role in the agricultural economy of the Yuma Mesa. In
the fifties, Gerry began working with peanuts and found the crop that
would become his life's passion.
In 1977, Gerry and Franny opened the Peat Patch on their original
homestead. Twelve years later the Pratts and the Honeycutts grew their
firs peanuts and delivered them to the Peanut Patch. Gerry was impressed
with the quality and encouraged the young growers to expand their
production with a commitment to sell his quota if they could duplicate the
quality that he insisted on. Gerry surmised with a quality grower in his
pocket, he could concentrate on expanding his retail operation.
As 1990 rolled around, everything looked like it was going according to
plan. the peanut crop was excellent; Gerry's protégés performed beyond
expectations and the year ended with a handshake that would make the
Pratts and the Honeycutts the primary producer of the peanut Patch
Peanuts. The spring brought tragedy when the Didier family discovered that
Gerry had inoperable cancer. Upon Gerry's untimely passing the family was
faced with a dilemma as to who would carry on the Peanut Patch Dream. The
decision was made to sell the business to someone who could carry on the
vision.
The natural choice for them was Gerry's best peanut growers. By the time
the store opened in 1991, the Pratts and the Honeycutts decided to move on
to new horizons, which left the Peanut Patch without an owner. The George
family decided to become a part of Gerry's original dream and re-opened
the store on November 20, 1997. The store has changed a great deal over
the years as it has expanded to meet the needs of our patrons, but the
tradition has been a commitment to the highest quality products available.
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