Washington potatoes promoted in Vegas

Farm and Ranch March 13, 2009 The Washington State Potato Commission played its hand last week at the International Restaurant Show in Las Vegas. Commission Director of Trade Matt Harris says about 18-thousand people attend the event, which also includes hotels, night clubs and bars. Harris: "We met with folks not only from the regional area but we were also able to talk to restaurant owners in Seattle, Washington, of all places. We had folks coming in from California. We saw folks from Mexico as well as some other international destinations." Harris says restaurateurs who come by the commission's booth always want to know about quality, what varieties are available and also how potatoes are grown. Harris: "It is always refreshing to sit down with a restaurant owner and talk to them about the different russet varieties and also what other varieties of potatoes we have to offer as far as reds, whites, purples, blues. And then not only do a lot of restaurants use fresh potatoes but they use a lot of processed potatoes and so it is always refreshing to talk about the different cuts of potatoes that are available in the marketplace." Harris says another important reason to be in Vegas is that is has the most hotel capacity of any city and all those people who come to town consume a lot of product, including potatoes. He did say it was obvious from the Vegas show that the economic downturn has caused a slowdown in the restaurant industry. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.