b"evolvingdiningpreferences,operators As America's favoritehad to adapt by optimizing menus and 1PotatoesUSA.CalendarYear2019Sales&serviceoptions.Forexample,ascon- vegetableand the Utilization Report.sumers looked to feed their household, 2NationalRestaurantAssociation.COVID-the importance of family bundles and number one side dish19Update:TheRestaurantIndustryvalue meals grew. After cooking for days on menus, it is Continued Impact. Published June 12, 2020.on end or experiencing homemade mealfatigue, consumers would look to restau- important that the 3Technomic. State of the Industry Report: Junerantsformealstheycouldn'tmake potato industry 2020. Slide 35.themselves.Inresponse,operators4Datassential.COVID-19Report19:HereIfromBuffaloWildWingstoPanera remind operators that Come. Slide 12.Bread added non-standard family bun- 5Datassential,Webinar#7WhatConsumersdles at value prices. For smaller house- potatoes are versatile,Want, May 15, 2020. Slides 45-46.holds, buy-one-take-one meals became affordable, andpopular as a way of reducing public out- 6PotatoesUSA.2020ConsumerAttitudes&ings.AccordingtoDatassential,offer- nutritious. Usage Study. Slides 11, 72.ings like these have a higher purchaseintentthanotherconcept s4 ,suchasmeal/bakingkitsoroperatorgroceryservices. Potatoes fare exceptionally wellwithbundledofferingsastheyareaffordable and familiar.Immunity boosting foodsHealth has become more important toconsumers, and building immunity is atop priority because it will help preventillness.Accordingtoleadingresearchfirm Datassential, some of the top tenfoodsandnutrientsbelievedtohelpboost immunity are root vegetables andvitaminC 5 .Potatoesareanutrient-dense vegetable, an excellent source ofvitamin C, and a smart ingredient addi-tion for operators looking for ways toimprove their healthy offerings.As America's favorite vegetableand thenumber one side dish on menus 6 , it isimportantthatthepotatoindustryremind operators that potatoes are ver-satile, affordable, and nutritious.Ifyourbusinessneedsresourcesandrecipes to supply to foodservice opera-tors,[email protected]/OCOTBER 2020 POTATO GROWER 7"