I buy these peanuts for several reasons: Peanut Trading has assured me that herbicides and pesticides aren't used; Valencias aren't susceptible to fungus and the resulting aflatoxins of peanuts that touch the soil; the bluejays, who can't be bothered with small seeds, show up within 5 minutes of my dropping some unshelled on my balcony; I roast them and grind them for peanut butter — luscious! Oh, and the shells become mulch for the landscaping outdoors.