IDAHO POTATO COMMISSION CELEBRATES PARTNERSHIPS WITH MORE THAN 100 FOOD BLOGGERS

The IPC recently released a new documentary shot in Eastern Idaho by blogger Average Betty that captures the 2015 Blogger Harvest Tour.

EAGLE, ID (December 2, 2015)  — Food bloggers have increasingly become a trusted resource for millions of Americans and the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is proud to announce that in the past five years it has worked with more than 100 food bloggers on numerous projects and invited dozens to travel to Idaho to experience the annual potato harvest first-hand. 

In celebration of this milestone, the IPC has invited its blogger partners to post the Idaho® Potato Heart Badge on their blogs. This badge signifies that they are Idaho spud lovers to the core and the IPC is, in turn, a big fan of them. Additionally, the IPC recently released a new documentary shot by popular food blogger, Average Betty, that captures the annual potato harvest through the eyes of food bloggers and foodservice professionals.

“We are very proud of the long-standing relationships we have developed with some of the country’s leading food bloggers and many who are just starting out,” explained Don Odiorne, Vice President, Foodservice, IPC. “These talented women and men have helped us expand and increase our communication with consumers to help them better understand what makes Idaho® potatoes different from potatoes grown in other states.”

To celebrate its winning blogger strategy, the Idaho Potato Commission is inviting top food bloggers to post the Idaho® Potato Featured Blogger badge on their sites.

The IPC recognizes and supports the passion and dedication that bloggers bring to their Idaho® potato projects, and it’s evident the bloggers appreciate the IPC’s commitment and support as well. In the past seven months, Odiorne has received two separate awards from the food blogger community.

“The Mini Golden Pinecone was awarded to Don Odiorne to honor his support, enthusiasm and vision of what food bloggers are attempting to do with their blogging,” stated Patty Londre, Founder of Camp Blogaway. “Don is a cheerleader for the food blogger community.” Camp Blogaway is an annual retreat for food bloggers that takes place in Southern California’s San Bernardino Mountains. 
 
Odiorne was also awarded the “Blogger’s Choice for All Participating Brands” at the 2015 Food and Wine Conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. The IPC has sponsored this high-profile food blogger event for three years.

Throughout the year, IPC engages food bloggers on many different levels to help support numerous marketing programs:

Blogger Potato Harvest Experience – To celebrate Idaho’s annual potato harvest the IPC has invited more than 50 food bloggers over the past five years to Eastern Idaho to learn first-hand how Idaho® potatoes are grown, harvested, stored, packaged and processed. In return, the bloggers, like Betsy Life share their learnings and new recipes with their social media followers.
Robust Blogger Recipe Collection – The IPC has added hundreds of new recipes developed by food bloggers to its comprehensive recipe database. From gluten-free and vegan recipes to family favorites, every blogger demonstrates the versatility of Idaho® potatoes by creating recipes that reflect their regions and traditions. The full list of bloggers the IPC works with can be found in a special section on the IPC website. 
Regional Blogger Event Sponsorships – Bloggers often convene to network, share ideas and learn how they can take their blogs to the next level. The IPC has participated in dozens of these events ranging from conferences in New York to informal gatherings in homes in Los Angeles, and the IPC’s involvement at each varies. However at every event, the IPC meets potential blogger partners and provides them with tips for developing successful partnerships with associations and corporations.
Videos – Videos have fast become an easy and entertaining way for organizations to communicate their brand’s attributes. Most recently, popular food blogger Coryanne Ettiene created a video demonstrating how to use leftover mashed potatoes to make Mashed Idaho® Potato Stuffing Balls. Ettiene’s video appears on AOL’s Food channel and is generating thousand of views every week.
By working with food bloggers the IPC has the opportunity to engage directly with all their followers on their social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. This means hundreds of millions of consumers every year are being reminded to include Idaho® potatoes in their shopping carts when they visit the grocery store. 

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About the Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the IPC is a state agency that is responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho®” seal, a federally registered certification mark 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, that differentiates Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states.