World’s Largest Peanut Boil begins

Labor Day Weekend is almost here, and that means only one thing in Luverne: peanuts. Specifically, Alcazar Shriners boiled peanuts. Labor Day Weekend marks the start of the Shriners’ World’s Largest Peanut Boil.

The peanut boil started in the 1970s, and it was quite a humble affair.

“It was a group of local Shriners and they wanted to have a fundraiser for Alcazar,” says Shriner CEO Andy Compton. “So they just decided they was going to boil peanuts. And they got a pickup truck bed load full of peanuts on the vine, hand-picked them off, washed them, then boiled them in a washtub.”

The peanuts were even sold in a small grocery store parking lot, but the Shriners quickly realized they needed more room. Now at their permanent location, the Shriners boil five huge vats of peanuts at a time. They then drain them, package them into those signature brown paper bags, then sell them as soon as they hit the tables.

“Last year we sold 25 tons of boiled peanuts and a ton of parched peanuts,” says Comptom. “And that’s what we anticipate doing this year. That’s what we have to sell, that’s what we bought, we’re going to sell them.”

All of the proceeds from the peanut sales go to the Alcazar Shriners Hospital work with children and the upkeep of the Luverne peanut boil. The Shriners say they couldn’t do anything without the help of their volunteers or loyal customers.

“They have perfect peanuts!” says customer Joe Lee. Lee is from Opp and has been buying peanuts for more than ten years. “Some people can boil the peanuts themselves, but you stand the chance of getting them too salty or not salty enough or what have you. And they do it up here and they’ve been doing it long enough that they do it right.”

“It’s really just the thought that all the funds made here goes to help children,” adds volunteer Megan Hudson. “Everything for children and the Shriners hospital and it’s just everybody coming together as a huge support system for all of those children.”

While there are plenty of peanuts as of Thursday night, you might want to hurry and get your bags soon. The Shriners don’t plan on having any leftovers.

“If you’re early get your peanuts, if you’re late get your peanuts, if you’ve got money in your hand, we’ll sell you peanuts,” Compton says with a laugh.

The Shriners started selling peanuts at 5 a.m. Thurday morning and plan on stopping when it gets dark. The sales will continue until Monday or until the peanuts are gone.