Oregon Lawmakers Looking At Making The Potato The State Veggie

The potato would become the Oregon state vegetable under a resolution in the legislature.  Potatoes are the top selling vegetable in Oregon, with growers harvesting over 2.5 billion pounds of spuds each year.

"Nothing rises to the stature of the potato as far as jobs produced, as far as products shipped, and as far as farm gate dollars coming in," said State Senator Bill Hansell.

"Potatoes is a universal language," noted Potato farmer Kim Wagstaff.  "Everyone knows potatoes.  Everyone speaks that language.  Everyone loves potatoes in some form.  The state of Oregon grows really good potatoes."

Potatoes were grown on 44,000 acres of land in Oregon in 2021 and shipped internationally.  The resolution making the potato Oregon's state vegetable remains in committee.

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