Latest News from the IPC

For the past two years, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) national television commercial has featured the Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck and a perplexed potato farmer who can’t seem to keep tabs on it and its fun-loving Tater Team. The IPC recently launched its new national television commercial, which again features the now famous farmer searching for his Truck. But this year his search soars to news heights with the help of a fellow farmer.

Not many think of stocking up on potatoes for Halloween, but this year the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is offering seven new reasons to make sure spuds are at the top of the grocery list.

Idaho® potatoes – the term refers to their source of origin – are renown for quality and reliability in all 50 states. While most consumers and foodservice operators associate the Idaho trademark with russet potatoes, Idaho growers are seeding fields with new varieties to meet a burgeoning demand for reds, yellows, and other niche varietal potatoes.

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) announced the recent appointment of two new Commissioners who will each serve three-year terms. Randy Hardy, from Hardy Farms in Oakley, and Nick Blanksma, a grower residing in Hammett, will be formally sworn in at the IPC’s October meeting. Mike Christensen of Melba, who has already served one term on the IPC, will also be sworn in for another term. The Commissioners were nominated by industry peers and selected by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter.

Eagle ID (September 2014) — It’s September, and the annual potato harvest is underway across Idaho, where growers are unearthing a year’s supply of America’s favorite potatoes. To coincide with the arrival of fresh Idaho® Potato varieties in the market and to assist operators with planning for fall and winter menus, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has posted its Perfect Potato Pairings recipe web page.

Showing its support for one of the most popular fundraisers ever, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) Great Big Idaho Potato Truck nominated the Florida Department of Citrus, Washington Apples and Georgia Peaches to accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The energetic Tater Team that travels with the Great Big Idaho Potato Truck initiated the challenge on Facebook with a video of them drenching the Great Big Idaho Potato Truck.

When Tater Tots® began arriving in grocery stores in 1954, they quickly caught on as a snack food, a side dish and the foundation for casseroles at dinner tables across America. Across the next sixty years, foodservice operators capitalized on tot popularity, enthusiastically integrated them into menus ranging from quick service to white tablecloth. As these bite-sized potato croquettes officially move into middle age, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) salutes the tot as both an inspired potato product and a springboard for potato creativity.

During peak picnic season make sure your spread is complete with the perfect potato salad. With more than 100 potato salads in its rich recipe database, as well as tips from the experts and how-to videos, the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) website is your top resource for this popular summer side dish.

For operators who research products and order online, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has added another essential foodservice tool to its online resources. The IPC cost and size calculators help operators take the guesswork out of purchasing Idaho® Potatoes. From carton to plate, operators can rely on these tools to give them real time numbers for keeping food costs in line and customers happy.

As the potato industry’s best resource for product information (varieties, handling, storage) and usage (preparation tips and recipes), the IPC collected targeted solutions and recommended recipes for five potato menu standards: All Things Au Gratin Potatoes, All Things Baked Potatoes, All Things Mashed Potatoes, All Things Potato Salads, and All Things French Fried Potatoes.