IT'S "OKTUBERFEST" IN IDAHO! A MONTH LONG CELEBRATION OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE VEGGIE

Celebrate Oktuberfest with an assortment of festive Idaho® potato recipes!

Eagle, Idaho, September 30, 2019 – Changing leaves, chilly weather and cozy meals all mark the arrival of fall and one of the most important times of the year in Idaho - the potato harvest! More than 13 billion pounds of spuds (about one-third of all potatoes grown in the United States), is unearthed in this annual event. And in celebration, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has created a menu of Oktuberfest recipes you can feast on all month long.

Want a little taste of what’s on the Oktuberfest menu? Bite into these Brown Butter Herb Roasted Fingerlings made with chives and parsley, salt, pepper, butter and Idaho® fingerling potatoes. This simple yet delectable dish is straight out of spud heaven, and will put you in the Oktuberfest state of mind!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs Idaho® fingerling potatoes, sliced in half lengthwise
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 Tbsp Litehouse poultry seasoning
• 1 tsp Litehouse freeze-dried chives
• 1 Tbsp Litehouse freeze-dried parsley

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (350°F for convection).
2. Melt butter in a small pot over medium heat until butter starts to brown; remove from heat.
3. Add dried herbs to barely browned butter.
4. In a medium bowl, combine sliced fingerlings, butter herb mixture, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat potatoes.
5. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, place potatoes cut side down in a single layer and roast for 25 minutes or until easily pierced with a knife.

View our entire Oktuberfest menu that includes mouth-watering recipes like Maple and Rosemary Glazed Chicken and Fall Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner, Brown Butter Herb Roasted Fingerlings, Mini Hasselback Potatoes with Creamy Dill Dip, and a decadent dessert, Maple Bacon Idaho® Potato Pie.

“Potatoes are a multi-billion dollar industry in Idaho. As the state’s largest agricultural crop, it generates more than 30,000 jobs,” said Frank Muir, President & CEO, IPC. “Even though harvest is only six short weeks, the entire industry works year round to make sure consumers have the freshest, highest quality potatoes possible.”

Chew on these fun facts while preparing your Oktuberfest feast:

• Weather dependent, planting takes place in April. Approximately 70 to 90 acres of potatoes are planted per day - totaling about 310,000 acres.
• A national survey revealed that Idaho® potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable.
• 412 pounds of Idaho® potatoes are sold every second.
• In 2018 the average person ate 114 pounds of potatoes.
• To be sure you’re buying genuine Idaho® potatoes, look for the “Grown in Idaho®” seal. It’s a federally registered trademark assuring consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes.

About the Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency that is responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho®” seal, a federally registered trademark that assures consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain-fed irrigation and rich volcanic soil, give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance. These ideal growing conditions are what differentiate Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states. For more information, visit www.idahopotato.com.