Who is idaho potato spokeswoman

Then, in , Mark was visiting with his close friend Mike Wagner, who farmed just a few miles away. Neither had ever grown potatoes, but the crop was booming in western Idaho , and the two neighbors decided they could each make a go of it.

These days, the Coombses consistently harvests acres of Russet Burbanks annually on a five-year rotation. But after the second or third year, you start knowing the production crew, and you get pretty comfortable.

You become pretty good friends. Thanks to the commercial, Coombs has gained a little notoriety. Kaylee was working as a travel agent, but ready for a change. Jessica talked her into applying. Laura Martin, who watches over the potato and the team for Foerstel marketing, put both young women in her stack of finalists when she reviewed her applicants. As she researched their social media accounts, she saw that Kaylee and Jessica were friends.

Martin was looking for chemistry, a team that could handle long hours together in a truck cab and long weeks sharing duties on the road. When Jessica and Kaylee heard that, they dubbed themselves the Tater Twins. They got the job. Their office is the cab of a Kenworth semi, outfitted with Wi-Fi, laptops, printer and mini fridge.

Bunk beds serve as storage shelves, chairs, desks and, occasionally, a place for an afternoon nap. The best part of the job is seeing new places every trip, says Kaylee. Jessica is smitten with Hilton Head, S. Spend 48 hours with the Big Idaho Potato and you see how easily people are smitten. It takes just a couple hours parked on a closed street at the Seattle Center awaiting the Torchlight Parade to get caught up in Big Potato mania:.

Bryan Swanson of Vienna, Virginia, saw the potato pass his hotel as parade entrants got a motorcycle police escort into town that morning. Her mom wonders about the oven it would take to bake it. But what to do with the retired potato? Kristie Wolfe, a celebrated tiny house builder who had traveled around the country with the potato for two years as a Tater Team member and spokesperson for Idaho potatoes, suggested it would make a great tiny house.

The commission liked the idea, and donated it for the purpose. Wolfe transformed the six-ton spud into a high-demand Airbnb vacation rental, with a simple but luxurious air conditioned interior.

Wolfe has three other properties listed on Airbnb. Judging from the media buzz and the demand for bookings, she has another clear winner with the Big Potato Hotel. The payoff for the Idaho potato commission? So far, since , the truck and its crew have traveled over , miles and participated in events in all 48 contiguous states, including 49 events with more than , people in attendance.

Consistent with that, the big Idaho Potato truck regularly makes appearances in support of local causes and charities throughout the country. Touting Idaho potatoes as a performance food, the commission also scores big with its sports sponsorships such as the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.