Trick-or-Tater: The Trend Turning Potatoes into Halloween’s Hottest Treat

As spooky festivities are ramping up, don’t forget to stock up on Halloween’s hottest treat — potatoes! People have been embracing Trick-or-Tater all over the nation in recent years, to the surprise and delight of kids who, it turns out, appreciate a little variety in their candy buckets.

• What is Trick-or-Tater? This delightfully offbeat trend of handing out potatoes to trick-or-treaters started with a few jokes on social media several years ago, but it has sprouted into a beloved ritual that’s as hilarious as it is heartwarming. Check out Potatoes USA’s press release on the trend here, which has already been picked up across 460 news websites, including major national outlets like Yahoo!, Associated Press, MarketWatch, and KTLA.

“When we started adding potatoes to the candy bowl, we thought we’d get a few laughs from the parents. But it’s wild to see just how much kids love to take the potato! It’s fun, and it is something kids with food allergies can safely enjoy on Halloween. I’d call that a win-win!” said Kayla Vogel, community engagement manager at Potatoes USA.

As Halloween approaches, don’t be afraid to mix up your tradition by grabbing a 10lb bag and handing out potatoes (or chips) as well as candy. If you do participate, Potatoes USA would love to hear about it! Please feel free to tag Potato Goodness in your social posts and/or send photos to ka***@************ss.com.

How to Make Your Halloween Spud-Centric Beyond Trick-or-Tater

If you don’t normally get trick-or-treaters —or you just want to step up your party game — never fear! Potatoes USA is out with some frighteningly good new ways to enjoy spooky spuds. From Witch Hat Tots to Franken-Fries and Deviled Potatoes, these monstrous mash-ups are a great way to satisfy kids, family, friends, and neighbors for any Halloween bash. We’d love for you to try out these recipes and tag Potato Goodness on Instagram or send photos to ka***@************ss.com.

November 12, 2025 Update

“Trick-or-Tater” Media Coverage Reaches New Heights

The trend has captured so many hearts and minds that The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) weighed in, calling this year’s Halloween “the peak of potato” in a front-page feature.

According to the article, “You’ll find grown-ups from Georgia to California saying they’re buying sacks of spuds — in some cases, as many as 150 pounds of them.”

On Facebook, The Wall Street Journal’s post has over 10,000 likes and 1,700 shares, which is significantly more than they usually receive.

NBC Nightly News also jumped on the bandwagon, calling potatoes the “new star of the spooky season.”

Former NBC News correspondent Kevin Tibbles, when asked what he’s learned from giving out spuds, shared, “Everyone’s got a good sense of humor…when I whip out a potato, everybody’s got a smile on their face.”

Read More about the Success of the Trick-or-Tater Campaign