Potatoes USA Connects Parkhurst Dining Leaders with Potato Production and Menu Innovation

Potatoes USA hosted culinary leaders from Parkhurst Dining for a field-to- menu educational event at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover, Wisconsin. The program connected a multi-state foodservice operator directly with potato production, culinary education and opportunities for menu innovation.

• Why it matters: Parkhurst operates more than 70 college and corporate dining locations across 12 states, giving its culinary leaders the potential to introduce new potato dishes to diners across a broad foodservice network. Many of these diners are Gen Z college students whose food preferences and habits may extend beyond their time on campus.

Grower Mike Carter, a former Potatoes USA Board chairman, and his team led participants through a potato field during harvest and then a packing shed, where they saw potatoes being washed, sorted, and prepared for shipping.  Participants also toured potato storage facilities and learned how storage helps maintain availability throughout the year.  Several culinary leaders described the storage visit as particularly informative.

Potatoes at the Center of the Plate

The educational program followed the potato’s journey from farm to on-site dining and addressed nutrition, menu innovation, cost management, and sustainability. A culinary demonstration illustrated how potatoes can serve as the foundation of a complete dish rather than only a side.  The featured recipe paired shaved Brussels sprouts and fingerling potatoes with pulled turkey, positioning potatoes at the center of the plate while using protein in a supporting role.

• What they’re saying: Parkhurst culinary leaders identified potatoes as a versatile, guest-favorite ingredient that could help address priorities including food costs t, waste reduction, nutrition, and menu variety. Participants left with new ideas for incorporating potatoes into their programs, including an opportunity to feature potatoes at a student farmers market.