Holidays could look different, but spud, onion supplies ample

Potato and onion suppliers say they will have plenty of product on hand for Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts in 2020.

“For the holidays, we are offering a 20-pound russet baker pack as families gather around the dinner table; it provides the best value,” said Christine Lindner, marketing manager with Friesland, Wis.-based potato grower-shipper Alsum Farms & Produce Inc. 

“Additionally, we are currently promoting ad volume for reds on both A and B-size red and B-size gold potatoes. This size potato can help retailers bring a fresh offering to the category at a great value.”

Even in the Year of the Pandemic, suppliers expect to move plenty of potatoes and onions over the holidays, Lindner said.

“The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are typically families getting together in their homes, and while gatherings might look smaller and different this year, the holidays will drive potato sales at retail,” she said.

Fall and winter promotions are underway at Reidsville, Ga.-based Vidalia sweet onion grower-shipper Shuman Farms, said John Shuman, president and CEO.

“We have created a robust fall and winter promotional calendar for category managers and buyers to drive incremental sales, not only of sweet onions but other commodities throughout the department,” Shuman said. “We know that sweet onions are market basket drivers.”
Shuman’s research shows that buying sweet onions leads to other purchases, he said.

“Our content and promotions over the next few months will focus on the versatility and delicious flavor of our premium sweet onions because, whether consumers are cooking holiday meals or trying to eat a little healthier come the new year, sweet onions will be an important ingredient,” Shuman said.
Shuman also sees the pandemic as an opportunity to give something back over the holidays, he said.

“This holiday season, giving back to our communities and providing food to those in need will be more important than ever,” Shuman said. 

“According to recent information published by Feeding America, it is estimated that more than 54.3 million people will have experienced food insecurity in 2020 due to the effects of COVID-19, including a potential 18 million children. In an effort to help, Shuman Farms will be donating 50,000 meals during our November and December Feeding America bag program to support these families in need. This holiday season, giving back to our communities and providing food to those in need will be more important than ever.”

Yerington, Nev.-based onion grower-shipper Peri & Sons Farms is “geared up” for “huge” consumer demand this year, said Jessica Peri, retail sales manager.

“This year our retailers will also be carrying our new organic cipollini, organic red and white pearls, biodegradable clamshells and organic shallots,” she said. 
Houston-based grower-shipper MountainKing Potatoes will heavily promote 5-pound Butter Russets, Butter Golds, Butter Reds and 24-ounce Steakhouse Roasters, along with fingerlings, Creamer Golds and Creamer Reds, said Andreas Trettin, marketing director.

“Display bins and sleeves are perfect for secondary holiday displays,” he said.
Marketers also note that, due to COVID-19, they are entering a holiday season not quite like any other, so it’s hard to predict how it will go.

“We obviously cannot predict the future, but we can understand the factors that will affect edible spend, negatively or positively, as we enter the holiday season,” said Rachel Atkinson-Leach, category and brand manager with Bancroft, Wis.-based grower-shipper RPE Inc. 

“Currently we are seeing consumer spending on edible products continue to slow down from the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.” 
Other factors could come into play, too, such as decreased away-from-home dining and “consumer mobility,” Atkinson-Leach said.

Nobody knows what to expect for the holiday marketing season, said Ross Johnson, director of category management with the Eagle-based Idaho Potato Commission.

“This is the great question all retailers are trying to look into their crystal balls to see,” he said. 

“We have to assume with COVID that many families will not be traveling to host big gatherings, but on the flip side, many families will likely purchase larger-sized bags, given leftovers will play a more significant role now that people are eating out much less.”