IPC names grand prize winner of Potato Lovers Month display contest
By
John Groh
June 11, 2025
The Idaho Potato Commission announced the grand prize winner of its 2025 Potato Lovers Month retail display contest, selecting Produce Manager Brian Castleberry of Remke Markets, which operates under the Fresh Encounter family of companies in the Cincinnati area.
Matt Zapczynski, the IPC’s retail promotion director for the Northeast and Midwest, made the surprise presentation on June 5 to Castleberry at the Remke location in Crescent Springs, KY. For his efforts, Castleberry received a $1,000 gift card and a retro-style Victrola jukebox.
The winning display submitted by Remke Markets Produce
Manager Brian Castleberry featured a Wizard of Oz theme, which
was inspired by one of his daughters.
The PLM contest is held annually and designed to inspire creativity in constructing attractive and enticing displays of Idaho potatoes with the goal of moving more product.
To be eligible to win, stores had to construct a display of Idaho potatoes in bulk or bags clearly showing the Grown in Idaho seal while utilizing special themed point-of-sale materials provided by IPC. Displays had to be in place for at least one week during the contest period.
Displays were judged on a point system that took into consideration several factors, including use of fresh or dehy Idaho potato products; use of IPC point-of-sale materials; salability of the display; and creativity of the display.
“With nearly 2,000 entries, this was one of the better turnouts we have had in recent years,” said Zapczynski. “Fresh Encounter and Brian always do a great job with their displays, and Brian was extremely excited to be chosen as the winner.”
Zapczynski said this year’s entries were extremely creative and well done, but Castleberry “took it to the next level with his Wizard of Oz theme.”
“The Potato Lovers Month display contest is definitely a highlight for us every year,” Castleberry, produce manager at the winning Remke Markets, told The Produce News. “It’s a great way to break up the day-to-day routine and get creative in the produce department.”
Castleberry, who has been with Remke for 15 years, the last two in his current role, said the Wizard of Oz theme was inspired by his seven-year-old daughter, who is a huge fan of the movie and assisted with some of the painting of the display.
“It was a lot of fun, we had potatoes playing some of the characters, including Dorothy, and it created a lot of buzz in the store,” said Castleberry. “It also increased the ring on Idaho potatoes as well as total store sales during that period, so it was a huge success.”
As for the grand prize of a Victrola jukebox, Castleberry said he has three daughters who are big music fans, so it will surely be put to good use.
As for next year’s PLM contest, Castleberry said he has already started thinking of a theme, but he’s playing it close to the vest for now.
“Once this year’s contest ended, we were already planning for next year,” he said. “We have some good ideas, but I’d rather not say so we can keep the element of surprise.”
John Groh graduated from the University of San Diego in 1989 with a bachelors of arts degree in English. Following a brief stint as a sportswriter covering the New York Giants football team, he joined The Produce News in 1995 as an assistant editor and worked his way up the ranks, becoming publisher in 2006. He and his wife, Mary Anne, live in northern New Jersey in the suburbs of New York City.
