FORT ST. JOHN -- The Big Idaho Potato truck took a pit stop in Fort St. John today on their way to Alaska.
The Idaho Potato Commission is the brains behind the semi-truck. They aim to promote and protect the Grown in Idaho seal to ensure everyone is buying authentic Idaho potatoes. They also aim to make an impact on the charities and markets they visit.
The truck was originally made for the 75th anniversary of the Idaho Potato Commission. The team is currently on their 11th tour but the first international one.
“About 11 years ago, the Idaho Potato Commission was trying to figure out a big idea for what they could do for their 75th anniversary. There were some ideas about a coffee table book being thrown around,” said Kyle ‘Spudicus’ Rauterkus, an ambassador for the team. “One lady came up with the idea to put a giant potato on the back of a pickup truck. Then somebody else was [asked] what if we put it on a giant semi-truck.”
The team is currently on their way to Skagway, Alaska for a food festival. On their way back, they will be stopping in Dawson Creek while making their way to Alberta.
“We love meeting people and it's probably our favourite part of the job. So, anyone who sees us, we love to say hi. I love seeing people take pictures and seeing everybody happy about it,” said Erin 'Travel Tot' Witherspoon, another ambassador.
When asked if the potato was real, Rauterkus laughed, saying “of course it's real. No, it weighs four tons and it's a steel structure with a fibreglass moulding around it. Then, it's painted in texture to look like a real potato.”
