Deal with it, Idaho: The potato named Oregon’s official state vegetable

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — State officials gathered in Salem on Sept. 23 to formally acknowledge the potato as Oregon’s state vegetable.

While potato farming is typically associated with Idaho, Oregon ranks fourth among all U.S. states in potato production , harvesting about 45,000 acres of taters in 2023. The potato industry brings $200 million into the state each year.

With these statistics in mind, state legislators passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 in 2023, approving the official designation. Sen. Bill Hansell — a chief sponsor of the bill — was among the officials who celebrated the potato’s induction Monday.

“The hardworking farmers who cultivate this crop are the backbone of our agricultural sector, and today we acknowledge their contributions by elevating the potato to its rightful status,” Hansell said. “It was an honor to sponsor SCR 3 and see this resolution come to life. This is a day of celebration not just for potato growers, but for all Oregonians.”

The potato is Oregon’s top-selling vegetable, lawmakers say, and is the state’s seventh most valuable agricultural commodity.

Oregon potatoes are also an important international export. Oregon potatoes are eaten in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, Mexico and South America.

Oregon produces so many potatoes that in 2023, farmers overshot demand by 600 million potatoes (165,000 tons) .

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