Wisconsin growers association has a full agenda of promotions
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association is turning to a homegrown hero to promote spuds in the state and region.
Director of promotion, communication and consumer education Dana Rady said the association is planning to produce a commercial and point-of-sale materials this month with two-time NHL All-Star Joe Pavelski, who is a Plover native.
“This partnership fits in well with promoting Wisconsin potatoes as a staple and vital component of healthy, active lifestyles,” Rady said.
“It also speaks to younger generations directly in encouraging them to make healthy choices and communicate delicious, healthy and easy ways to prepare Wisconsin potatoes that are also fun.”
Pavelski helped the University of Wisconsin win an NCAA national championship in 2006 before playing the past 11 seasons with the San Jose Sharks.
He earned a silver medal as a member of the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 2010 and was captain of Team USA at the 2016 World Cup.
Rady said the ad will appear on a Wisconsin TV station by late summer and will air weekly on the “Mad Dog & Merrill Midwest Grill’n” show in Midwest markets.
Mad Dog & Merrill
The association also will continue its work with hosts Gary Merrill and Mark “Mad Dog” Mathewson, the self-proclaimed “grillologists” from Wisconsin who do more than 300 grilling demos a year.
The duo has its own line of seasoning and cookbooks in addition to the TV show, which airs in more than two dozen states and Canada.
Rady said Mad Dog and Merrill will record a show devoted to Wisconsin potatoes on Aug. 27 at the Fort2Base Race in North Chicago, Ill.
The association plans to run its commercials during every episode of Mad Dog and Merrill, and the grillers will make a number of other appearances on behalf of the WPVGA, including events at five Green Bay Packers games from September through December.
The Spudmobile also will appear at those selected Packers games. Rady said the vehicle — now in its fourth year — has proven to be “highly advantageous” in promoting Wisconsin potatoes.
“We are averaging 100 events per year,” she said.
The association is once again planning a display contest during its Potatopalooza promotion in October. The grand prize is a 2016 Cub Cadet UTV.
Last year’s winner, a Trig’s store in Rhinelander, received a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
