Halloween is a night to expect the unexpected.
Revelers are using potatoes to put new takes on old
traditions.
DENVER,
Oct. 11,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 with potatoes.
"Potatoes and Halloween go far back so it's
really cool to see them come back together," said Marisa Stein, Potatoes USA
That's right, Potatoes USA is reporting that America's favorite
vegetable has expanded its spooky season repertoire with crafts,
games and some very excited trick-or-treaters.
Potatoes or Candy?
Want to surprise and
delight your trick-or-treaters? Offer them a potato! Revelers
nationwide have begun offering spuds as a fun alternative to candy.
"It honestly started as a joke," explained Pat Foy, a self-employed contractor in
Lancaster, 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 with
potatoes? The Irish would carve spooky faces into spuds to scare
away an evil spirit called Stingy Jack.
Modern Halloween lovers are bringing back this
historic trend, sharing their favorite potato jack-o'-lanterns or
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 for Fall Harvest
Mashed Potatoes or other delicious dishes.
Spooky Spud Stamps
Because of their
hardy texture, raw potatoes are an ideal craft tool for making
spooky 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," said
Marisa Stein, marketing director,
Potatoes USA. "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, like Boo! Pumpkin and Potato
Stew, Baked Jack-O'-Lantern Potatoes and Roasted 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 visit PotatoGoodness.com to learn
more about the many health benefits of potatoes and find some
delicious Halloween or fall recipes.
If you participate in #JackOTater
or #Trick-or-Tater, tag @PotatoGoodness
on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win
Potato Goodness Swag!
About Potatoes USA
Potatoes USA is the national marketing and promotion
board representing U.S. growers and importers. Potatoes
USA, the largest vegetable
commodity board, was established in 1971 by potato farmers to
promote the benefits of eating potatoes. For more information on
Potatoes USA's mission to
"Strengthen Demand for Potatoes," visit PotatoesUSA.com.
Contacts
Erin
Bracken
media@hillenby.com
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SOURCE Potatoes USA