A newly designed Colorado Proud display bin will include potatoes from the state's San Luis Valley, according to Colorado Potato Administrative Committee Assistant Director Linda Weyers.

Weyers said the bin will be used for “all of Colorado's produce,” showcasing the state's vast selection of fruits and vegetables at the retail level.

Created in 1999 by the Colorado Department of Agriculture to promote the state's food and ag products, the program set out to make identifying Colorado produce easier for consumers through an eye-catching logo.San Luis Valley potato growers and their families were ‘actors’ in the ‘From Our Family to Yours’ series of 15-second commercials that were aired on Denver NBC affiliate Channel 9 during September 2014. (Image from the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee and Channel 9 Denver) When the campaign was launched, about five dozen companies took part. As of summer 2014, that number had grown to include more than 2,000 growers, processors, retailers, restaurants, commodity groups and associations throughout the state.

In addition to the Colorado Proud program through the Colorado Department of Agriculture, CPAC is also a sponsor of Adams State College football in cooperation with the college's agriculture and athletic departments, she said.

A large part of its marketing budget remains committed to Mexican campaigns, and Weyers said CPAC is working with individual shippers who will attend an upcoming Mexican produce industry trade show and be a part of the Colorado Department of Ag pavilion. Last year CPAC was awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture specialty crop block grant to research consumer-direct marketing programs for its Mexican trade, and the area sees good movement of spuds into the 26-kilometer buffer zone.

In fall 2014 Weyers had noted that while Mexican consumers are familiar with white-skinned potatoes grown in that country, the goal of CPAC was to increase awareness of Colorado's russets, reds and yellows.

The committee also continues to develop inroads with retail chains just inside Mexico, she said.

CPAC also expands its presence through social media outlets Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as its website, coloradopotato.org. The Web page has been updated with video capabilities, enhanced graphics and key industry links.

“There will be more interactive elements this coming season,” Weyers said. “We'll have news feeds, and we're strengthening our industry pages with links to research projects being conducted by Colorado State University and the Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association.”

Marketing Administrative Assistant Racheal Werner posts CPAC shipping figures that show year-to-date, month-to-date and day-to-day movement of potatoes out of the San Luis Valley. The site also links to all the social media pages and to commercials CPAC produced with Denver NBC affiliate, KUSA Channel 9. The four 15-second television commercials aired during September 2014 but remain available for viewing via links. Referencing the Colorado Proud message for potatoes, each of the spots includes CPAC's tagline, “From Our Family to Yours,” and each features real potato industry members from the valley.