b'Potatoes: A Profitable And Popular Menu Item For RestaurantsJane Foreman,Foodservice Manager, Potatoes USAPotatoes are an essential part of theCrackerBarrel)thaninfastfood restaurant landscape. restaurants(e.g.,McDonalds, Wendys),primarilyduetomore Arecentstudyof1,500patronsexpansive menu offerings. The key (consumerswhoeatoutatrestau- motivatorsdrivingconsumersto rants) uncovered the potato dishesorderpotatoesarelargelydueto dinerslovetoorder,potatodishestheir taste, followed by being satis-theychoosetoswapinplaceoffying,flavorful,andsatiating(fills otheroptionspresentedtothem,you up).andtheiroverallexpectations regarding potatoes at restaurants. Thenumberonedishorderedby those surveyed is fries, with 82% of Interestingly, 53% of consumers areconsumersreportingtheyorder willing to pay $5.20 more for a mainthem at least occasionally, followed dishwithpotatoesthanwithoutbymashedpotatoesandhash USA Potatoes them,regardlessofhowtheyarebrowns.Withdinersappetitefor served. The amount they are willingpotatoes,itmakessensethatfries to pay increases as the restaurantsshowupon72%ofU.S.menus, qualityincreases.Thisisexcellentwhich is a 3% increase over the past Messagenews for the potato and foodservicefouryears,accordingto industriesbecauseitincreasestheDatassentialspotatomenutrends demand for potatoes and helps anreport.Chefsarekeepingtheir establishments bottom line.kitchensstockedwithfrysupplies too.Technomic,anotherfoodser-Anothergreatpointforrestaurantvice research company,shows that managers is that potatoes are such afrozenfrysalestothefoodservice staple that patrons are disappointedindustryincreasedby369million when menus do not include pota- pounds from July to June compared toes. Over half of the patrons sur- to the prior year. The ways to incor-veyed (60%) expect to see potatoesporate fries on menus are vast; keep-on menus. This expectation is high- ing tabs on where growth is project-er in casual dining (e.g., Applebees,ed is important. Loaded fries contin-OutbackSteakhouse)andmidscaleue to grow in popularity, increasingrestaurants(e.g.,HuddleHouse,37%onmenusoverthepastfour 6 POTATO GROWER MARCH 2023'