b'Potatoes Are Americas Favorite VegetableKim Breshears, Vice President Of Marketing,Potatoes USAAmericansloveforpotatoeshas Mashed potatoes were the prepara-deepened in the last year, according tion style eaten most recently, fol-to the 2021 Consumer Attitudes and lowed by baked potatoes, fries, hashUsage study. browns,androastedpotatoes.Seventy-four percent of respondentsAnnually, Potatoes USA conducts an statedtheyatepotatoesweekly,annualConsumerAttitudesand only surpassed by bread.Usage study (n=2000) to track U.S.consumersmindsettowardsfood Eventhoughpotatoesareeatenanddietarychoicesandattitudes often,thestudyalsoaskedthetowardpotatoes.Understanding respondentswhytheydonoteatconsumer attitudes and motives are potatoes more frequently. The beliefimportant for the U.S. potato indus- theyalreadyeatenoughpotatoestry to meet market needs and stimu- was cited as the primary reason, fol-USA Potatoeslate potato consumption. lowed by beliefs potatoes are high incarbohydrates,preferothervegeta-The2021studyindicatesthecon- bles, and believe potatoes are fatten-sumerssurveyedprimarilychoose ing. Messagefoodsbasedontheirflavor,fresh-ness, and value. For potatoes, con- However,whenaskedwhatwouldsumersappreciatethatpotatoes encouragethemtobuypotatoesmay be eaten in many ways, their more often, consumers cited smallerversatility, and filling.bagsizestominimizewaste,moremeal ideas, and nutrition informa-For the fifth year in a row, potatoes tion.rankedasAmericasfavoriteveg-etable. Broccoli was the second most The study tracks consumers beliefspopularvegetable,followedby on over thirty characteristics abouttomatoes,corn,saladmix,and potatoes.TheJanuary21studymushrooms.showedtheconsumersopinionsaboutpotatoesincreasedfromthe8 POTATO GROWER MAY/JUNE 2021'