The potato industry kicks off 2023 at Potato Expo

January is always an exciting time for the potato industry as growers, organizations, and suppliers meet for Potato Expo to connect and learn. This year’s event was in Denver, Colorado, and Potatoes USA’s Winter Board Meeting kicked off the week.

The Winter Board Meeting gathers Potatoes USA’s Administrative Committee for an overview of the Board’s research and marketing programs and a financial update. This year’s event included an innovations workshop facilitated by Steve Lerch. Some of the featured activities included:

• Highlights from a foodservice patron study conducted in the fall of 2022 that provided insights into what consumers want to see on restaurant menus.
  • Interestingly, 53% of consumers surveyed said they would pay $5.20 more for a main dish with potatoes than without them, regardless of format.
• Two culinary innovation sessions were conducted with schools, and five occurred at the Spud Lab – all designed to help get more potatoes on more menus.
  • Innovation sessions included a workshop on the University of Michigan’s campus and a virtual session with Sodexo K-12.
  • Twin Peaks, Global Culinary Innovators Association (GCIA), Potato Industry Chef’s Council, Potato Glory Culinary Council, and Actual Veggies visited Potatoes USA’s Spud Lab for innovation sessions.
  • The “What Are You Eating” campaign will debut new social media videos in February featuring “everyday healthy lifestyles” focused on 18-34-year-olds. In addition, onsite events will be held at fitness chains in select cities, and there will be a Strava challenge (Strava is an app that makes fitness tracking social).
• Potatoes USA is now a member of the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) leadership council to create stronger connections with retailers and ensure potatoes are merchandised effectively.
• Over $111 Million in funding was secured between two projects to advance production research.
  • Climate-Smart
  • Potatoes and Pests – Actionable Science Against Nematodes (PAPAS)
• An educational Lunch and Learn webinar series launched in the fall with an update on the retail sector. The next Lunch and Learn webinar will discuss consumer preferences for potatoes on restaurant menus.   
• Season two of Potato-cast, Potatoes USA’s podcast series, has had 1,500 downloads.
• Contacted 28 media outlets to address misinformation about potatoes, resulting in a 39% correction rate.
• Conducted a fresh potato reverse trade mission (RTM) to educate Mexican importers, distributors, and retailers.
• The administrative committee approved the 2022 audit and two employee policies.

Potato Expo then commenced with valuable opportunities to network and reconnect. While the breakout sessions were all noteworthy and well-received, one event, in particular, picked up some buzz in the media: This Spud’s for You – Celebrity Chef Edition.

Ted Allen, Emmy award-winning host and host of “Chopped” and “Chopped Junior,” moderated the event where two teams competed against each other. One group consisted of Duff Goldman, Pastry Chef, Food Network Personality, and Cookbook Author, and Jason Morse, CEC, Owner and Executive Chef, 5280 Culinary, National Spokesperson and Grilling Expert, Ace Hardware. The second team included Simon Majumdar, Author, Food and Travel writer, and Food Network Personality, and RJ Harvey, RDN, CEC, Culinary Director, Potatoes USA. The challenge was to utilize yellow potatoes in a potato-centric dish. Majumdar and Harvey have been named the champions for their potato laksa with potato-wrapped shrimp and curry-spiced potato cracklings. The other duo, Goldman and Morse, made an impressive dish of Buffalo-style potato chip nachos with avocado “wings” and mashed potatoes mixed with rendered bacon fat that was then put in a cast iron skillet and topped with cheese. With a combo like that, they walked away as the winners of “Best Bowl of Mashed Potatoes.”

Contestants from “This Spud’s for You – Celebrity Chef Edition.” From left to right: RJ Harvey, Simon Majumdar, Duff Goldman, Jason Morse. (Photo credit: Potato Expo and Bill Schaefer Photography)

RJ Harvey and Simon Majumdar took home the prize for ‘utilizing yellow potatoes in a potato-centric dish’ for their potato laksa with potato-wrapped shrimp and curry-spiced potato cracklings. (Photo credit: Potato Expo and Bill Schaefer Photography)

Duff Goldman and Jason Morse won ‘best bowl of mashed potatoes’ for their mashed potatoes mixed with rendered bacon fat that was then put in a cast iron skillet and topped with cheese. (Photo credit: Potato Expo and Bill Schaefer Photography)

Potatoes USA staff leading the “#1 Spud Hits,” a team potato workout during the Potato Expo. (Photo credit: Potato Expo and Bill Schaefer Photography)