New ad campaign

Farm and Ranch Report April 13, 2011 A new advertising campaign was launched in February by the U.S. Potato Board in women’s lifestyle and cooking magazines. It is called “The Many Sides of Potatoes” and Molly Connors of Richland, Washington, Co-Chair of the Board’s Domestic Marketing Committee, says the campaign’s goal is to prompt that target audience “Linda” to serve potatoes to her family more often.

Connors: “Really by trying to offer her meal solutions. Trying to entice her with new usage ideas for potatoes that are healthy, nutrition and can all be made in under 30 minutes.”

The advertisements drive readers to visit PotatoGoodness.com to download the recipes and serve potatoes as a side dish in their dinner tonight. And if demand is increased Connors says all segments of the potato industry benefit. Grower Sid Staunton of Tulelake, California, the other Co-Chair of the Domestic Marketing Committee agrees and sees new and diverse opportunities being created for growers.

Staunton: “Because instead of just planting the same varieties the next 20-years we are seeing some changes even in our own farms. I think what it does by creating this type of buzz for potatoes, it creates the demand and then drives all the markets and benefit’s the segments and keeps the industry healthy. So, that is exciting news.”

That’s the U.S. Potato Update. Brought to you by the United States Potato Board, maximizing return on grower investment. I’m Bob Hoff for Northwest Aginfo Net.