Yes, that really is a peanut-shaped vehicle driving around Pittsburgh
You’ve got to be a little nutty to take this job. These three recent college graduates must be. They’ve been been hired to drive across the U.S. in a peanut-shaped van.
The Planters NUTmobile, owned by KraftHeinz, is spending the week in Pittsburgh.
Planters hires what it terms “Peanutters,” all of them recent college graduates, for a yearlong tour. This trip started in July.
It is being staffed by Grace Noice (aka Go Nuts Grace), Danny Holton (aka Maca-Danny-a) and Shannon Hope (aka ShanNut).
On Wednesday, the trio helped pack meals at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne and distributed items throughout the city. They are hosting a canned-food drive at every event this week.
“This is a dream job,” said Holton, who is from California and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in business sustainability. “It’s really a dream job in real life. I get to drive across country and work for a billion-dollar brand.”
From 3 to 6 p.m Friday, you can catch them at the farmers market at The Block Northway in Ross.
They will be parked at the 60 Minute Missions Escape Room in Murrysville from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and at the Pittsburgh Reptile Show and Sale at the Harmar House in Harmar from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
“To add to the fun, each week we have food trucks, musical performances and, this week, we are excited for a visit from Planters’ NUTmobile,” said Jamie Pavlot, director of experience for The Block Northway. “There will also be a food drive for the (West View Hub) Food Pantry, so we encourage folks to donate a nonperishable item.”
The Block Northway’s farmers market has been extended through Dec. 18.
The NUTmobile is described as a 26-foot-long peanut on wheels that travels from coast to coast spreading smiles and sharing nuts. The inside has images of Mr. Peanut through the years, the Planters logo and a peanut shape embellishment on the blue seats. There is a door decorated with photos of mixed nuts.
It usually takes up five parking spaces.
At stops across the country, guests can take a photo with the NUTmobile, grab a sample and a coupon and play a game for a prize.
Holton, Noice and Hope attended training in Verona, Wis., where they learned how to drive the vehicle and other important information needed for the tour. Noice is a Southern Illinois University grad, and Hope graduated from Syracuse.
“The mission of this east-to-west nut-cracking fest is to spread smiles as our nation navigates these uncertain times,” Holton said.
There are three such vehicles traversing the country.
“We love being out in the community,” Holton said. “We always have a nutty surprise for everyone who sees us.”
The iconic Mr. Peanut was born in 1916. The first NUTmobile took to the road in 1935 and was used by a Planters salesman.
The traveling NUTmobile program began in 2011.
You can apply here for a position to be a “Peanutter.” You can see if the NUTmobile will be in your area here.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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