EAGLE, Idaho — And the survey says...we live in a tater nation! In a new survey by the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC), 97 percent of Americans said they eat potatoes and more than 81 percent enjoy them as a side dish, snack or main course on average of three days per week.
“The Idaho Potato Commission’s marketing programs have one main objective—to increase Idaho potato consumption nationwide,” explained IPC president and CEO Frank Muir. “We were thrilled with the survey results, which found consumer attitudes toward potatoes shifting. America’s favorite vegetable is now consumed three times a week, up from two times per week in 2009.”
Other eye-opening survey results:
- Tater Nation
- 97 percent of Americans eat potatoes.
- Over four in five (81 percent) sit down with a plate of potatoes once a week.
- More men than women (84 vs. 78 percent) eat potatoes once a week.
- Midwesterners are more likely than those in other regions of the country to eat potatoes at least once a week (88 vs. 78 percent).
- Popular Preparations
Americans like convenience and it's evident in their favorite ways to eat potatoes.
- Baked (29 percent)
- Mashed (25 percent)
- French fries (17 percent)
- Hash browns (9 percent)
- Potato chips (5 percent)
- Baked potatoes are favored more by those who are 45 and older than by 18- to 44-year-olds (36 vs. 23 percent).
- More 18- to 44-year-olds than those who are 45 and older prefer french fries (21 vs. 12 percent).
- Cravings
When asked which vegetable they crave most, Americans made potatoes the clear winner. Nearly one quarter (24 percent) of the Americans chose spuds, followed by leafy greens such as lettuce, kale or spinach (20 percent), broccoli (14 percent), tomatoes (13 percent) or corn (11 percent).
- When I Say Potato…You Say Idaho
Despite the growing “buy local” movement, 72 percent of Americans would eat Idaho potatoes over potatoes from other states.
- About the Survey
The IPC survey was conducted by Kelton between Jan. 7 and Feb. 3, 2014, among 1,000 nationally representative Americans ages 18 using an email invitation and an online survey.