Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • C9

Planters past present mm Obici immigrates to America from Italy. and his business partner Si, tiderful tiety displays Planters history ml Mario Peruzzi start the Planters Peanuts Co. in Wilkes-Barre. business is incorporated as the Planters Nut and Chocolate Co. urn Obici 1910: Planters starts using semi-transparent bags to enhance freshness.

builds his first mass processing plant in Virginia. Peanut is born. Eleven-year-old Antonio Gentile creates the sketch for the anthropomorphic nut. 1918: Planters becomes the first salted nut ever advertised with its ad in the Saturday Evening Post introduces the "Nickel Lunch" campaign, selling one-ounce bags of T- I I Ml mmm j-r- jk. IJ 1 I freshly packaged peanuts for five cents.

opens its first international office in Toranto, Canada. 1930: Planters stores begin opening in cities across the country. 1 939-1 945: Mr. Pean ut helps promote 4 war saving stamps during World War II. Brands Inc.

acquires the Planter Nuts and litis all i Chocolate Co. 1961-1965: Mr. Peanut is a star attraction at the World's Fair. 1962: Planters intro duces dry roasted peanuts. Peanut Pals forms, a nonprofit group dedicated to collecting Mr.

Peanut and Planters memorabilia. Brands Inc. merges with Nabisco. 1999: Planters becomes the official snack of NASCAR. lb MIXED MARK M0RAN CITIZENS' VOICE FILE The former Planters Peanuts building was located on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre.

2000: Nabisco is integrated into Kraft Foods. 2004: Mr. Peanut earns on spot on Madison Avenue's Advertising Walk of Fame. 2010: Robert Downey Jr. Exhibit 'The Wonderful Story of Planters Peanuts' on dis- Downey if play at the Luzerne yr PI.

A- County Historical becomes the voice of Mr. Peanut. 2011 Planters launches peanut butter in the United States. SOURCES: LUZERNE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WWW.PLANTERS.COM Society Museum, includes Mr. Peanut memorabilia, like salt and pepper shakers, whistles WARREN RUDA THE CITIZENS' VOICE Planters Peanuts' on display at the Luzerne County Historical Society Museum, features Nut and Chocolate Co.

warren ruda the citizens' voice and alarm clock. WBVOICE CV13TAB1 9 032912 WBVOICEPAGES C08-09 032812 13:19 SUPERIMPSC.