IT’S BACK!!! THE BIG IDAHO® POTATO TRUCK HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED ITS 6TH NATIONAL TOUR

In the Next Six Months the Truck Will Travel 23,000 Miles, Visit More Than 60 Cities and Meet Millions of Spud Lovers

Boise, IDAHO (March 2017) – The Big Idaho® Potato Truck is back on America’s highways promoting Idaho’s most famous agricultural product, the Idaho® potato. In just six months, the Truck will log 23,000 miles, stop in more than 60 cities, both large and small, and be photographed millions of times by spud lovers across the country. The Truck’s popular “A Big Helping” charitable program will continue to support local non-profits across the country.

“When we launched the Truck six years ago, it was intended to be a one year campaign. Instead, the Truck became an overnight sensation – reminding consumers at every turn to look for the ‘Grown in Idaho®’ seal, which is prominently featured on the side of cab,” explained Frank Muir, President & CEO, Idaho Potato Commission (IPC). “We placed several other graphics on the Truck to communicate important key messages such as the Idaho® potato’s certification by the American Heart Association as a heart-healthy food; the Famous Idaho® Potato Bowl logo, the premier cold-weather college football bowl game; Spuddy Buddy, the Idaho® potato mascot; and important nutrition facts.”

The Tour
The Truck’s first national appearance is the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, GA. Other stops throughout the summer include the Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC, the Potato Chip Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY and the NASCAR Pocono Raceway Cup Series. To view the entire calendar visit www.bigidahopotato.com. If you can’t see it in person, there are a few other ways to stay connected…

• BigIdahoPotato.com is the Truck’s official website with a calendar listing all the Truck’s stops.
• Potatotracker.com provides a live feed of the oversized spud, allowing visitors to see where it is any time of day.
• Social media channels will continue to provide spud lovers direct interaction with the Tater Team, the threesome that travels with the Truck, and the latest news on the tour: 
• Facebook: Big Idaho Potato Tour
• Instagram: @bigidahopotato
• Twitter: @bigidahopotato
• Snapchat: bigidahopotato

The Tater Team
The people who travel with the Truck are the Tater Team.

• Jessica – Jessica,new to the Tour this year, is an Idaho native and University of Idaho graduate. She is a travel enthusiast and has lived in Costa Rica, Barcelona and NYC! When she’s not traveling, Jessica enjoys meeting new people, trying local cuisine, and photography. She believes every day should be an adventure and embraces change and new scenery. She is excited to go on the Idaho potato tour with her best friend Kaylee and promote her home state and favorite vegetable!
• Kaylee – This is Kaylee’s first year as a Tater Team member. She is a Boise State University graduate and can’t wait to share her love of Idaho with America. Kaylee is very passionate about traveling and has lived abroad in Spain, traveled across Europe and throughout Central America. Her hobbies, aside from globe-trotting, include hiking, reading a good book, watching inspiring documentaries, and planning her next adventure. She is ready to share her fun-loving and quirky personality and can’t wait to meet everyone out on the road!
• Larry -- Larry (or #andlarry) is on his fourth cross-country Tour with the Big Idaho® Potato Truck. He brings a masterful skill at hauling the 6-ton potato that is matched only by his larger-than-life personality. He enjoys being a part of the Tater Team and seeing the country from behind the wheel. Larry is an Idaho native who enjoys writing books, hanging out with his family, and aspires to build his own sustainable home soon. You will never see him without a smile and he loves nothing better than making others smile. So be sure to send a friendly honk and wave at him when he passes by!

The Truck
The Big Idaho® Potato weighs more than 6 tons - the equivalent of 32,346 medium-sized Idaho® potatoes. After being seen by millions of Americans, the most frequently asked question is still, “Is it real?” We’ll never tell…but if it is, the Big Idaho® Potato:

• Would make 30,325 servings of mashed potatoes… pass the gravy!
• Could make more than 1.4 million (1,455,570) French fries!
• Would weigh 1,102 times more than the largest potato ever grown, which clocked in at 11 pounds.

To date, the Truck has visited 48 states (all but Hawaii and Alaska); traveled through 5,000+ towns/cities; and traveled more than 100,000 miles since its 2012 launch celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the IPC. The Big Idaho® Potato Truck took a full year to design and build. It was built by Chris and Sharolyn Schofield of Weiser, Idaho with the help of a few specialized contractors.

A Big Helping
The Big Idaho® Potato Truck Tour has always had a charitable component to it, and now in its third year, “A Big Helping” is the Truck’s “personal” way of assisting local charities across the country. During its six-month tour, the Truck will work with local charities in the markets they visit to help build awareness and funds for their cause. Past recipients have included food banks, children’s hospitals and animal shelters.

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