News from the IPC "Foodservice" category

When Tater Tots® began arriving in grocery stores in 1954, they quickly caught on as a snack food, a side dish and the foundation for casseroles at dinner tables across America. Across the next sixty years, foodservice operators capitalized on tot popularity, enthusiastically integrated them into menus ranging from quick service to white tablecloth. As these bite-sized potato croquettes officially move into middle age, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) salutes the tot as both an inspired potato product and a springboard for potato creativity.

For operators who research products and order online, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has added another essential foodservice tool to its online resources. The IPC cost and size calculators help operators take the guesswork out of purchasing Idaho® Potatoes. From carton to plate, operators can rely on these tools to give them real time numbers for keeping food costs in line and customers happy.

As the potato industry’s best resource for product information (varieties, handling, storage) and usage (preparation tips and recipes), the IPC collected targeted solutions and recommended recipes for five potato menu standards: All Things Au Gratin Potatoes, All Things Baked Potatoes, All Things Mashed Potatoes, All Things Potato Salads, and All Things French Fried Potatoes.

One potato, two potato…and more. The state of Idaho produces over 25 potato varieties, and the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is proud to promote them all. From the popular Russet Burbank to the delectable Cal Red to exotically named Russian Banana Fingerling, Idaho produces a potato to meet every recipe requirement. For operators who need help selecting just the right potato for their needs, the IPC has developed a “Our Most Popular Varieties” web page with a link for a downloadable Idaho® Potato Varieties poster to take the guesswork out of purchasing.

Consumer awareness of gluten as a trigger for autoimmune and other conditions has rocketed to prominence, creating both a new industry of gluten-free products and a new gluten-free menu category. While the resulting wave of gluten-free menu requests has stymied many a foodservice operator, a popular, widely available solution is always at hand: Idaho® potatoes.

According to trend guru Andrew Freeman*, customers will see “haute homey” dishes–highbrow versions of classic comfort foods–on menus across the country in 2014. It’s a prediction the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) can support wholeheartedly, since signature potato soups are a popular standby on winter menus. If the soup is served with a side of hearty potato bread, so much the better!

Over one hundred and thirty content marketing executives gathered at the Highline Ballroom in New York City on November 12th for the tenth annual Custom Content Council Pearl Awards ceremony. Competing against custom content creators and agencies from 13 different countries representing brands such as Coca-Cola, Ford, Walmart, Whole Foods Market and GEICO, the Idaho Potato Commission, in conjunction with Plate magazine, took home top honors in the Best Achievement of Corporate Objectives–B2B Strategy for its annual Chef’s Calendar.

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) realizes that costing out a menu is no easy task. So, they’ve developed a number of useful tools to take the guesswork out of purchasing the right Idaho® potato. From carton to plate, operators can rely on the IPC Size Guide, Virtual Plate Sizing Guide (compares plate coverage of 50-count, 60-count and 70-count potatoes), and handy Cost Per Serving chart to specify the perfect Idaho® potato for their needs.

For the past 25 years, Don Odiorne, Vice President-Foodservice for the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC), has focused his considerable energies on creating national awareness and customer preference for Idaho® Potatoes in the foodservice sector. In recognition his commitment to his industry and his job, The Packer, a leading produce industry publication, selected Odiorne to receive its prestigious 2013 Foodservice Achievement Award during this year’s Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference and Expo.

The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) announced the launch of a new and improved recipe database on www.idahopotato.com, which features over 900 ways to prepare America’s favorite vegetable and introduces new categories, search and social media sharing functions. The improvements were designed to meet consumer demand and introduce creative new ways to prepare everything from summer salads and heart-healthy desserts, to gluten-free dishes and easy-to-make appetizers.