Picky Picky is produced by the Peanut Company of Australia (PCA), processors and marketers of high quality, Australian grown, Hi Oleic peanuts and peanut products. Based in Australia’s peanut capital, Kingaroy and working directly with peanut farmers, PCA have been Australia’s leading supplier of locally grown peanuts to domestic and overseas customers for over 90 years.
At PCA, we’re THE pickiest peanut perfectionists and that is why we are involved with all aspects of the peanut journey from developing new peanut varieties to shelling, grading, blanching, sorting, roasting and flavouring our Picky Picky peanuts. You can read more about PCA, including our world class peanut research and development program at www.pca.com.au.
Learn more about PCA and the Australian Peanut Industry story in the timeline below.
Peanuts first grown in Australia
1860sPeanuts first grown in the South Burnett area of Queensland
1901Brothers Harry and Ben Young plant their first peanut crop at Memerambi
1919Fledgling industry receives a boost
NSW company Marrickville Margarine (later known as ETA) installs machinery to extract peanut oil for use in margarine manufacture
1921
Marrickville Margarine purchases entire Burnett area peanut crop
1922
Peanut Marketing Board (PMB) forms
with W.M. Wheatley as chairman, at the request of Queensland growers to acquire the crop and market it on their behalf. First Crop of 231MT received with a selling value of approximately $21,000.
1924An affiliated body, Queensland Peanut Growers Co-operative Association Ltd,
forms to assist with the handling, storage and marketing of the crop
1927
3000 ton peanut silo opens in Kingaroy
started 1928 and built at a cost of £55,000
1929PMB establishes depot on Atherton Tableland
1933
Additional 4600 ton silo & plant built in Kingaroy (£62,000)
1938
Original wooden silo destroyed by a fire
which started accidentally in the lunchroom!
1951Annual production of peanuts reaches in excess of 21,000 tonnes
1960Commencement of deliveries in bulk, replacing the storage of bagged Farmers' Stock peanuts
1968In the early 70's PMB production reached 47,000 tonnes,
however it was in 1979 the Australian peanut industry produced a mammoth 61,464 tonnes of peanuts!
1970For the first time, the entire PMB production was quality sorted using electronic sorting machines.
1975Aflatoxin standards applied world wide at 15ppb.
PMB laboratory achieves NATA accreditation for the testing of Aflatoxin. Peanut Marketing Board and the Department of Primary industries commenced seed breeding scheme with Dr Ray Shorter.
1977PMB completed construction of a Blanching Plant
to process the aflatoxin affected portion of the 1980 season crop at a cost of $2,396,985.
1981Peanut Marketing Board restructures into a public unlisted company, PMB Australia Ltd
1992
PMB introduces 'Laser sorters' to maintain the highest peanut production standards
1994PMB Australia Ltd changes its name to the Peanut Company of Australia Ltd (PCA)
1995Introduction of Hi Oleic peanut line
from University of Florida by the Queensland DPI, and breeding activity commences with locally bred peanuts by Alan Cruickshank.
1995The first commercial sale of Hi Oleic peanuts (SO95R) by PCA
2000
PCA open a $1.76m Innovation and Technical Centre opens in Kingaroy
PCA purchases property in the Northern Territory to produce a winter peanut crop
2003Transport by rail to Kingaroy stopped
and was replaced by road transport.
2006Irrigated production of the 'Runner' type
increases through the adoption of a comprehensive Water Management Strategy by PCA
2006PCA purchases a second property
in the Northern Territory for additional winter peanut production
2007Major peanut growing areas expanded
to now include the Atherton Tableland near Cairns, Emerald in Central Queensland, Bundaberg and Childers, and in the South and Central Burnett regions west of Brisbane.
2010
PCA launches Picky Picky Peanuts to share with fellow peanut perfectionists!
2015Acquired by Bega Cheese
PCA (the creators of Picky Picky) is acquired by legendary Australian company Bega Cheese, with an immediate focus on supporting increased peanut production.
2018
Mitey Aussie Nuts
Picky Picky launches Mitey Aussie Nuts, a collaboration with iconic Australian brand Vegemite.
2018