Benton Black Krema's founder produced his first batch of peanut butter in 1908 and Krema is currently the oldest peanut butter company still in operation.

Krema is a fabricated name. Originally Benton Black used the name American Refining Company, but there was a company with the same name and he lost the legal battle over naming rights. So, instead of sulking, he scrambled the first two letters in American and Refining and instead of using a "C" from Company he used a "K" to come up with the name Krema.

Are Peanuts Native to the United States?

The peanut is thought to have originated in the Andes and has been found in Incan tombs. Discovered by the Spanish and Portuguese, the peanut then made its way to Africa and was returned to American shores by slaves.

Dr. George Washington Carver, born of slave parents near Diamond, Missouri, having received a B.S. from the Iowa Agricultural College in 1894 and a M.S. in 1896, is credited with diversifying the south's agriculture in the 19th century and increasing the profitability of the land by introducing crop rotation, adding fertilizers (in addition to crop rotation) to replenish worn out soil and developing over 300 new uses for peanuts and peanut products. Carver was a celebrated educator, botanist and inventor when it was rare for Africa-Americans to reach those heights in education and business.