- General News, Press Release
DENVER,Oct. 11, 2023–Every year, neighborhoods across America embrace their favorite Halloween traditions. But in recent years, families are jumping on new trends that bring an element of surprise to our beloved traditions withpotatoes.
That’s right:PotatoesUSABB #:162347 is reporting that America’s favorite vegetable has expanded its spooky season repertoire with crafts, games and someveryexcited trick-or-treaters.
“Potatoes and Halloween go far back, so it’s really cool to see them come back together,” said Marisa Stein, Potatoes USA
Families are taking a new spin on Halloween by painting, carving and eating America’s favorite vegetable–the potato!
Potatoes or Candy?
Want to surprise and delight your trick-or-treaters? Offer them a potato! Revelers nationwide have begunofferingspudsas a funalternativeto candy. “It honestly started as a joke,” explainedPat Foy, a self-employed contractor inLancaster, Pennsylvania. “I thought, if I’m going to give something out to kids on Halloween, I don’t want to just give them something that makes them go nuts. I’m of Irish descent, so potatoes made sense. I gave away big baking potatoes, and before I knew it, it took on a life of its own. Who would’ve thought?”
And Foy isn’t the only one mixing things up for Halloween. Families are exploring spooky spud crafts that provide new and old twists on Halloween activities.
Potatoes: The Original Jack-o’-Lantern!
It’s not Halloween without a jack-o’-lantern. But did you know this tradition started withpotatoes? The Irish would carve spooky faces into spuds to scare away anevil spiritcalled Stingy Jack.
Modern Halloween lovers are bringing back this historic trend, sharing their favoritepotato jack-o’-lanternsor jack-o’-taters. In addition to being adorable, they know that potatoes are easy to carve and affordable – so it’s easy to have a few extra on hand in case you need a redo. Like pumpkins, the potato’s long shelf-life makes it ideal for displaying your family’s carved creations. And no need to toss the potato insides! Carved out potato can be cut into small pieces forFall Harvest Mashed Potatoesor other delicious dishes.
Spooky Spud Stamps
Because of their hardy texture, raw potatoes are an ideal craft tool for makingspooky spud stamps. While adults carve the potatoes, younger artists can add their own spin to these handmade stamps by choosing designs and acting as the master painter.
“There’s always an element of child-like delight on Halloween. We want to be amazed and see things we don’t expect. Traditions like trick-or-treating for candy bars and carving pumpkins aren’t going anywhere. But it’s really fun to experiment with unexpected twists that can catch people by surprise,” saidMarisa Stein, marketing director, PotatoesUSA. “Potatoes and Halloween go far back historically, so it’s really cool to see them come back together, and for our traditions to come full circle.”
Families can also create delicious, nutritious Halloween recipes with extra potatoes, likeBoo! Pumpkin and Potato Stew,Baked Jack-O’-Lantern PotatoesandRoasted Pumpkin And Potato Soup.
An all-star vegetable, a 5.3 oz skin-on potato brings to the table the highest potassium among the top 20 most eaten vegetables, nearly one-third of the vitamin C we need each day and 3 grams of plant-based protein, making it an easy choice for families reaching for healthy dishes to balance out the post-Halloween candy hoard.
Be sure to visitPotatoGoodness.comto learn more about the many health benefits of potatoes and find some deliciousHalloweenorfallrecipes.
If you participate in #JackOTater or#Trick-or-Tater, tag @PotatoGoodness onFacebookorInstagramfor a chance to win Potato Goodness Swag!
About PotatoesUSA
PotatoesUSAis the national marketing and promotion board representing U.S. growers and importers. PotatoesUSA, the largest vegetable commodity board, was established in 1971 by potato farmers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes. For more information on PotatoesUSA’smission to “Strengthen Demand for Potatoes,” visitPotatoesUSA.com.
Contacts
Erin Bracken
media@hillenby.com
SOURCE PotatoesUSA
