Show Your Love for Spuds in February AKA Potato Lover’s Month

EAGLE, ID, February 1, 2010 – What’s better than celebrating love in February? … celebrating your love for potatoes!  The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has teamed up with proclaimed potato fans Denise Austin and Mr. Food to honor America’s favorite vegetable during Potato Lover’s Month (PLM).  The IPC is rewarding resourceful home cooks for innovative Idaho® potato recipes that bank on flavor and still save cents in its new “Watching Waistlines & Wallets” Recipe Contest.

Now through March 31, consumers are invited to submit their original, healthful, affordable and easy-to-prepare Idaho® potato recipes on www.idahopotato.com for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize. Recipes will be judged by the potato pros on the following criteria:

• Use of Idaho® potatoes as the main ingredient (potatoes can be fresh, frozen or dehydrated);


• recipe calls for no more than 10 ingredients;


• originality and taste;


• ease of preparation;


• overall healthfulness of the recipe and cost to make.

“The recession has prompted many consumers to dust off their cookbooks and prepare healthy and affordable meals at home versus dining out,” said Frank Muir, President/CEO, Idaho Potato Commission.  “Idaho® potatoes, which cost around 25 cents each, are the perfect main ingredient for just about any meal.  Not only are they low-cost and versatile, they are loaded with important vitamins and minerals.”

Helping to kick off the contest are fitness guru Denise Austin and America’s all-time favorite foodie Art Ginsburg (AKA Mr. Food).  For over 25 years, Denise’s high-energy exercise DVDs and information-packed books have helped millions of Americans whittle their waistlines.  Mr. Food’s daily food news segments teach millions of consumers how to prepare healthy and affordable meals that the whole family will love.  Ms. Austin announced the contest during a satellite media tour on January 25, while Mr. Food will share contest news with his fans as he travels across America.

Seven recipes will be chosen with one grand-prize winner receiving $5,000; one runner-up receiving $1,500 and five honorable mentions receiving an exclusive prize pack.  The prize pack will include autographed copies of both Denise’s new book, Denise’s Daily Dozen, and Mr. Food’s latest cookbook, Mr. Food TV Favorites, as well as $100 in cash.

Visit www.idahopotato.com to view the contest guidelines and instructions on how to submit your original waistline- and wallet-friendly Idaho® potato recipe during the January 25-March 31, 2010, contest period.

The Idaho Potato Commission is a state agency that is primarily responsible for expanding the markets for Idaho®-grown potatoes through advertising, promotion and research. The Commission also protects the use of the “Idaho® potato” and “Grown in Idaho®” seals, which are federally registered Certification Marks that belong to the IPC. These Marks ensure that consumers are purchasing potatoes that have been grown in the state of Idaho.

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