b'Potato Expo Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels with Colorado Eventby Kam Quarles, NPC Executive Vice President and CEOOn Jan. 4-5, more than 1,800 U.S.EmmyAward-winninghostof potato growers and industry mem- Chopped and Chopped Junior. Two bers from a dozen countries turnedColoradopotatoindustrychefs out for Potato Expo 2023, hosted by(Jason Morse, CEC, owner and exec-the National Potato Council, at theutivechefof5280Culinaryin GaylordRockiesResortandLittleton,Colo.,andRJHarvey, ConventionCenterinAurora,RDN, CEC, the Culinary Director of Colorado,todobusinessandpre- Potatoes USA) paired up with Food pare their operations for the future.NetworkpersonalitiesDuff Celebratingits15thyear,PotatoGoldman and Simon Majumdar for Expo2023brokepreviousatten- a competition around creating dish-dancerecordsforaneventhostedes that put potatoes at the center of outside of Las Vegas, with 1,816 reg- theplate.WorkingwithYellow istered attendees and 175 exhibitorsPotatoesdonatedbyBobMattive NPCcoveringmorethan90,000squarefrom Hi-Land Potatoes in San Luis feet in the Aurora Exhibit Hall. Valley,Colorado,andCaribou RussetPotatoesdonatedby Whiletherecord-breakingatten- DominicLaJoiefromLaJoieFarms Messagedance was due in part to attendeesinVanBuren,Maine,theteams desiretomeetinpersonpost- were tasked with preparing a main COVID, I applaud our NPC team fordish as well as their best version of their outstanding efforts in creatingmashed potatoes.a compelling and creative program for our exhibitors and growers whoAfternearly50minutes,asplit look forward to attending the Expochampionship was announced with every year.TeamSimonandRJwinningfor theirspicylaksa,aMalaysiandish For the first time on the Expo stage,typically made with noodles, while attendees were treated to a specialTeam Duff and Jason won for their potato-themedcook-off,Thisflavorfulmashedpotatocreation.SpudsforYouCelebrityChefThetwoColoradochefsalso Edition,hostedbyTedAllen,theappeared earlier on local Denver tel- 8 POTATO GROWER FEBRUARY 2023'