SUN VALLEY, ID — The Idaho potato industry received a lift earlier this year when the American Diabetes Association added Idaho potatoes to its Better Choices for Life program, essentially clearing the way for those afflicted with diabetes to include potatoes in their meal planning.

With a 20 percent jump in entries received for this year’s Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest, more retailers than ever lifted up spud sales as they competed for $150,000-plus in cash and prizes.

The Idaho Potato Commission and the American Diabetes Association have announced a multi-year partnership making fresh Idaho potatoes the first vegetable to participate in the ADA’s esteemed, Better Choices for Life program. The purpose of the partnership is to help educate tens of millions of Americans on ways they can add Idaho potatoes to their meal plan.

What produce item is long, cylindrical, heavily netted and popular with consumers? If you guessed the Russet Burbank potato, you were correct. It became the most extensively farmed potato variety in the United States, especially in Idaho.

With global events during the past few years upending longtime consumer shopping behavior, are potato sales trends anywhere close to a stable new normal?