An audio version of this report

What’s the main thing the Georgia Peanut Commission’s Don Koehler took away from his recent trip to China?

“We’re gonna realize that we have a lot more in common than we have that separates us.”

That includes a love of the 花生. Uh, make that the peanut.

Koehler says a growing demand in China means Georgia could soon grow more peanuts and export a half-million tons there each year.

That’s a big deal.

“If you look at the fact that our production is somewhere below three-million tons [in the U.S.], half a million tons is a market mover for us.”

Koehler says that translates to hundreds of millions of dollars.

As far as this year’s crop, Koehler says wet weather has delayed planting. But he believes that’ll pick up in May without much impact on the overall season.