(Feb. 6, 3:00 p.m.) An online survey of more than 1,000 adults across the country revealed the potato is the vegetable of choice, with corn coming in second and broccoli third.
The Idaho Potato Commission and its advertising partner, Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Evans, Hardy + Young Inc., ordered the survey through Kelton Research, Culver City, Calif.
“What we were looking for is an accurate, independent researcher to get answers to some of our basic questions,” said Frank Muir, chief executive officer of the Idaho Potato Commission. “We just wanted to see where potatoes fit in the mind of consumers.”
The commission was not involved in the survey process so as to avoid influencing results, Muir said.
When asked what their favorite vegetable was, participants were given the options of potatoes, corn, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, carrots or other. Potatoes won, with 26% of the vote. Corn claimed 19% and broccoli a close third with 17%. Only 3% of the participants chose “other.”
“I was very pleased with the results,” Muir said. “They show that the potato has passed the test with the low-carb craze and consumers still want to eat potatoes.”
When asked how they liked to eat their potatoes, 28% said mashed, 25% baked, 20% in fries, 10% in hash browns and 5% as potato chips. Although the survey revealed mashed potatoes as the favorite potato preparation, the favorite culinary combination was steak and baked potatoes.
Muir said he hopes the survey information will be picked up by the consumer media.
“They often have those little charts and graphs in the left-hand corner of the front page or front of a section, and we’re hoping that maybe they pick up these little facts and run them,” Muir said.
Comments (0) Leave a comment