CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There are not many things that can turn an eye immediately quite like the Idaho Potato semi. Parked June 25 in front of the Champaign radio stations NewsTalk 1400, Lite Rock 97.5 and Classic Hits 107.9, no one could miss it.
In 2011, fresh Idaho potatoes were certified by the American Heart Assoc. (AHA) Heart-Check Food Certification Program. "Go Red for Women (campaign) is all about educating women on their risk of heart disease, which remains their No. 1 health threat," said Kristina Oncken-Cortez, Corporate Events director for the AHA.
"We are excited to have this opportunity to work with Idaho Potato to educate women around the nation and specifically in central Illinois."
Three of the Idaho Potato group – Kristie Wolfe, Larry Bathe and Ivan Nanney – were on hand to take pictures, pose and answer questions about the benefits of Idaho potatoes. Nanney said this is the third year the truck is on tour; it started in April.
He said their first event supporting the AHA, though, was in February, when Union Pacific had a Go Red Dash: "It was 15 (degrees) below, and people wore dresses."
Potatoes are a heart-healthy food. "There is no cholesterol or saturated fats. A medium potato is 110 calories and a potato has 45 percent of your daily vitamin C and possesses more potassium than bananas. Potatoes also have 8 percent of your daily serving of fiber," Nanney said.
Bathe, the driver for the group, explained, "Originally the Idaho Potato Commission joined with Forstel Design to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the commission. Forstel came up with several ideas and (the potato truck) was one of them."
The cost of the truck was the same as two 20-second television commercials, and Bathe said the truck so far has generated much for press about the potato and has been successful in getting people talking. He said every time the truck stops it is an event, whether getting gas or pausing for lunch.
The Potato Truck will visit 26 states and travel close to 19,000 miles. It is stopping at high-traffic events including the Kentucky Derby, the Art Car Parade and Festival in Houston, Texas, and the 55th World Lumberjack Competition in Hayward, Wis. (this week).
NewsTalk 1400, Lite Rock 97.5 and Classic Hits 107.9 came up with the idea to also bring the Eastern Illinois Food Bank to the event so visitors stopping to get a photo could also donate to reduce local hunger. Allie Adams of the station said, "We have a good relationship with the EIL (Eastern Illinois) Foodbank and it seemed a natural fit to team up again."
Michael Kiser, news anchor for the station, said the idea came about after they saw a story about the Idaho Potato Truck in The Associated Press. "We called to see if we could get the truck here. Sue Kennedy, their PR director, said they were coming through on June 24."
Since the truck is oversized, its crew has to stop at sundown and since they were traveling through Champaign anyway, Kiser said, "Let’s make it an event." Vehicles came to the morning event in a steady stream, bringing Ron Stevenson of the EIL Foodbank donations.
Stevenson, who has been with the foodbank for about 18 months, said this was helpful because "the need is great." Kristen Costello of EIL Foodbank added, "We serve 14 counties and 8,000 square miles.
"This is amazing; the Potato Truck is very visual and emphasizes the connection between food and the foodbank. This is the most unusual event we have been to. Since our name is mentioned, hopefully this will spur people to know about hunger in America.
"Even though this is just a big, giant potato, it has a much larger meaning. There is a foodbank in every county in Illinois and the nation. This is covered by Feeding America Association of Foodbanks, which is an umbrella association that allows us to get more food and outreach," she said.
The need for foodbanks has been great in recent years. "It was very different when the recession hit. We saw a lot of different demographics of people. We were glad to be there. The biggest need we have is monetary donations. Every dollar (here in eastern Illinois) is the equivalent of six meals.
"We have over 200 agencies, senior feeding sites, soup kitchens, et cetera that we deliver to. We also have a mobile food pantry for unmet needs in rural areas, along with a school pantry program and a backpack sack load to serve students over the weekends," Costello added.
EIL Foodbank has also been working with the local farmers’ market to add fresh produce. To learn more about it, visit www.eifoodbank.org
The Idaho Potato Truck will be back in Illinois at the Decatur Celebration on Aug. 1 and at the Boy Scout Air Fest in Romeoville on Aug. 8. To see more upcoming events, check out http://big idahopotato.com or www.facebook.com/ BigIdahoPotatoTour/timeline
