Make a date for… POTATO WEEK: 1-7 OCTOBER 2011
The first ever Potato Week takes place from 1-7 October and is a chance for everyone involved in growing, supplying, retailing and serving potatoes to educate and inspire consumers.
Introduced by Potato Council, the Week builds on the success of Potato Day held in 2010. This kick-started the Many Faces of Potatoes activity; a three year marketing campaign spanning the UK, France and Belgium supported by EU co-financing, allowing an increased investment in marketing.
Simon Bull, marketing manager for Potato Council, said: Potato Week is an opportunity to raise the profile of our fantastic crop. We want the whole supply chain to join us in demonstrating to families and younger consumers in particular as they are eating fewer potatoes than their parents that they are a healthy, tasty and versatile option for mealtimes.
We will be promoting the Week through a dedicated PR campaign, recipe placement and engaging with consumers through social media channels. Well also have a range of materials available for industry to use to raise awareness of Potato Week and have come up with a number of ways they can get involved.
We know that people ultimately love potatoes, but we have a job to do to continue to build demand and consumption. Potato Week is a perfect platform to do so and dispel some of the myths at the same time; proving that potatoes are naturally nutritious, as well as being quick and easy to cook. In fact potatoes are far quicker to cook than many people think – there are many ways to cook them in thirty minutes or less. Potatoes not only provide a source of vitamins and minerals, but they are also naturally fat-free. We hope the industry will join together to support this exciting initiative.
HOW TO SUPPORT POTATO WEEK
1-7 October 2011
Distribute recipe books: available on request from Potato Council, recipe booklets include a range of potato-based meals that are ready in under 30 minutes
Put up Potato Week posters: make use of Potato Councils posters to promote Potato Week, with tempting recipe images and key nutritional facts that will surprise and inspire consumers
Use Potato Council artwork and recipe ideas: demonstrate the versatility of potatoes to your own suppliers, customers or interested parties. These can be used on packaging, literature, marketing and promotional materials and websites
Use your story to inspire consumers and children
Engage local media: Have you a good news story to tell? Supplying local outlets, holding farm open days, celebratory events and passing on surprising facts about potatoes are all of interest for local media. Potato Council has information about facts of potatoes, please contact us for more details.
Educating children: Why not visit schools during Potato Week and give classroom talks on how potatoes grow or invite them to your farm? Potato Council has literature for use when presenting to children available on request or from our website: http://www.potato.org.uk/media_files/marketing/potatoes_in_schools.pdf
Supporters of Potato week can also use Facebook and Twitter to share facts about potatoes, highlight special offers or promotions and feature recipe ideas (linking to our consumer websites: www.manyfacesofpotatoes.co.uk that features meals in under 30 minutes).
Let Potato Council know what you are doing to celebrate Potato Week. For all literature requests, please contact Potato Council marketing on 024 7647 8869 or email marketing@potato.ahdb.org.uk.