Highlights from Potatoes USA’s Domestic Marketing Committee meeting
Potatoes USA recently covered how potato sales are doing in retail and foodservice amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Potatoes USA Chief Marketing Officer John Toaspern
On July 22, the Domestic Marketing Committee held its meeting. The committee oversees the Potatoes USA consumer, nutrition, retail, ingredient, and foodservice marketing programs. It is focused on encouraging more people to eat more potatoes in more ways, and on positioning potatoes as a performance food.
The Domestic Marketing Committee is currently co-chaired by Steve Elfering, vice president of operations at Potandon Produce in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Jaren Raybould, owner and manager of Raybould Brothers Farms in St. Anthony, Idaho.
Spudman editor Zeke Jennings sat through the meeting and posted updates via Twitter. Here are a few highlights.
Although foodservice sales are recovering, overall restaurant sales are still 30-40% below normal, said @Potatoes_USA‘s John Toaspern.
— Spudman Magazine (@SpudmanMag) July 22, 2020
Where Americans get their food. You can see how COVID has totally reversed the eating-away-from-home trend we’ve seen in recent years. pic.twitter.com/PG4gFXNIw2
— Spudman Magazine (@SpudmanMag) July 22, 2020
Retail #potatoes sales in the U.S., March 16 through July 12. pic.twitter.com/ALWSQPlv9j
— Spudman Magazine (@SpudmanMag) July 22, 2020
.@Potatoes_USA‘s Toaspern on @tacobell removing #potatoes from its menu: “Because of all the (COVID) issues, they wanted to simplify their SKUs. They wanted to shortened their menu and reduce the products coming into their kitchens. Why they chose potatoes, we can’t figure out.”
— Spudman Magazine (@SpudmanMag) July 22, 2020
Looking at Americans’ favorite #vegetables trends.
1. Potatoes 2. Brocoli 3. Corn pic.twitter.com/xaTsDhs8U6
— Spudman Magazine (@SpudmanMag) July 22, 2020
July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 fresh potatoes sales were up 14.7% in US in terms of dollars in the retail sector, and 9.5% in volume. That is mostly because of third- and fourth-quarter spikes once COVID-19 hit, per @Potatoes_USA
— Spudman Magazine (@SpudmanMag) July 22, 2020
Frozen potato sales (fries) in US foodservice were down 11.8% during first quarter of this year (January thru March), per @Potatoes_USA
— Spudman Magazine (@SpudmanMag) July 22, 2020
https://t.co/1xX7ZPputq has all sorts of info on #potatoes, including recipes, storage advice and nutritional data.
— Spudman Magazine (@SpudmanMag) July 22, 2020