Since 1954, Hubs has cooked Super Extra-Large Virginia peanuts the same way Dot Hubbard did when she started the business in Sedley, Virginia.
In this segment from 12 About Town Today, Marshall, grandson of Hubs founders Dot and HJ Hubbard, explains the family’s story, why southeastern Virginia grows such exceptional peanuts, and why a handful of Hubs is a powerhouse of energy. Watch the full video to learn more.
09 02 National Peanut Day Homegrown Harvest Festival in Franklin
In This Segment
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0:20 How Hubs began in 1954
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0:36 The top 1% of the crop and blister frying
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0:48 Why peanuts are a powerhouse of energy
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1:18 The taste test
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2:23 Why Virginia grows the best peanuts
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3:30 Visiting the Hubs Vine in Franklin
Where Are Virginia Peanuts Grown?
Most Virginia peanuts come from a small group of counties in the southeastern part of the state. Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Isle of Wight, and Suffolk are all part of this peanut-growing region.
Southampton County leads the way. It grows more peanuts than any other locality in Virginia, and back when Dot was getting started, it was the largest county in the country growing the type of peanut she wanted to cook.
That’s where the Hubs story begins. Dot grew up in Sedley, and her first peanuts came from her father’s farm. She believed most people had never tasted a really good Virginia peanut, and she set out to change that.
So what makes this land so good for peanuts? Two things, the soil and the climate.
The Soil
Peanuts don’t grow on trees. They’re legumes that grow beneath the soil, so the ground they’re planted in makes all the difference. The soil here is just right for the Virginia-type peanut.
The Climate
Soil is only half of it. Virginia-type peanuts also need a long, warm season, roughly 130 to 150 warm days, to fully mature. Here’s how a growing season usually goes.
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May: Seeds go in the ground, and the first plants appear within about 10 to 12 days
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Fall: Harvest begins
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After digging: The peanuts rest on top of the field for several days to dry naturally
Fall is a special time in Southampton County. As harvest gets underway, an earthy aroma settles over the fields.
Why Are Virginia Peanuts So Big?
Virginia-type peanuts are the largest peanuts grown in the U.S. Their size is why they’re known as the ballpark peanut, and why so many are sold in the shell or as gourmet peanuts.
At Hubs, we take size even further. We use only the top 1% of the crop.
Dot only wanted the biggest peanuts, and she picked them out by size long before anyone had a name for them. The industry eventually caught up and named that grade Super Extra-Large.
Every Hubs peanut comes from that top 1%. You’ll notice it the moment you open a tin.
What Are Blister Fried Peanuts?
A great peanut still needs the right cook, and that’s where Dot’s other big idea comes in.
Working from a family recipe, Dot developed a way of cooking Virginia peanuts called blister frying. It went on to become an industry standard. More than 70 years later, we still cook every batch her way.
Two Steps, More Than 70 Years
- Soak: Raw peanuts are soaked in hot water.
- Fry: They’re fried at high heat in coconut oil.
Simple, and done the same way every time. The result is a peanut with full flavor and the crunch you hear across the room. The About Town host tried a spoonful of our Salted Virginia Peanuts on air and summed it up as a nice crunch with just enough salt.
Are Peanuts a Good Source of Protein?
The simple answer is, yes.
A 1-ounce serving of peanuts, about 35 nuts, has 7 grams of protein. That’s why we call peanuts a powerhouse of energy.
Peanuts also naturally contain a range of nutrients, including
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Fiber
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Folate: A B vitamin
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Niacin: Another B vitamin
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Arginine: An amino acid
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Resveratrol: A plant compound also found in grapes
Our ingredient list stays short, too. Our Salted Virginia Peanuts are made with peanuts, water, and salt, then fried in coconut oil.
Hubs Flavors to Try
Every Hubs flavor starts with the same Super Extra-Large Virginia peanut. From there, it’s up to you.
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Salted Virginia Peanuts: The classic Hubs peanut, blister fried and lightly salted. It’s one of our bestsellers and the one the host tasted on air.
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Honey Kissed Peanuts: Finished with an all-natural honey coating and a touch of salt. Lightly sweet, and just as good over ice cream, yogurt, or salads as it is by the handful.
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Chocolate Covered Peanuts: We cook these in Sedley, then coat them in chocolate at the Hubs Vine in Franklin. In warmer months, they ship with cool gel packs to help keep them fresh, and they’re a favorite heading into the holidays.
We also brought our Happy Hour Mix and Peanut Brittle to About Town.
Not sure where to start? Our guide to finding your Hubs peanut breaks down our most popular flavors.
Visit the Hubs Vine
If you’re ever in Franklin, stop by the Hubs Vine. It’s our market, plus a 7,000-square-foot event space where we host lunches and events and bring in music, chefs, and artists.
We also give back close to home. Sales of our Single Origin peanuts [LINK: Single Origin product page] go directly to our local food bank. Those peanuts are grown at Izzy’s Field in Franklin, the first farm-to-food-bank project in Virginia.
Grown in Virginia. Cooked in Sedley. Since 1954.
From the sandy fields of Southampton County to Dot’s blister frying method, every part of the Hubs story starts right here in Virginia. Same peanuts. Same process. Same standard.
There’s nuthing better.
Shop Hubs Virginia Peanuts or watch the full About Town segment.
