Record number of winners take home top prizes in 2026 Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest
Record number of winners take home top prizes in 2026 Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest
Idaho potatoes were the hit of the season as more retail produce departments than ever before competed — and won — in the 35th annual Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest.
“From the 136 honorable mention awardees to the three sweepstakes winners and their category managers, this year we had an amazing number of even more amazing Idaho potato displays,” said Ross Johnson, vice president of retail for the Idaho Potato Commission. “The Idaho Potato Commission was delighted to award more than $150,000 in cash and prizes to honor our retailers’ creativity, including six luxury television sets valued up to $3,500 as the sweepstakes grand prizes.”
The Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest is still the only contest that awards every entrant for participating. This year, every qualified entrant received an exclusive mini portable 4K projector that allows direct projection from an iPhone or Android device.
Retailers competed with other same-size stores in one of three categories: 1 to 5 cash registers, 6 to 9 cash registers, or 10 or more cash registers. Within each store category, entrants were eligible to win these prizes:
- 1st place – $1,500
- 2nd place – $1,000
- 3rd place – $750
- 4th place – $500
- 5th place – $250
- Honorable mention – $100 (136 selected from remaining entries)
The Category Manager Match Program awarded equivalent prizes to corporate category managers for stores that qualified for a 1st through 5th place prize or the sweepstakes television set.
In-store displays were required to incorporate fresh Idaho potatoes (bag, bulk or both) with a clear label showing the Idaho name and the “Grown in Idaho” seal. The display also had to use IPC 2026 special themed point-of-sale materials: two double-sided Idaho Potato Lovers logo display signs, one large and two small double-sided signs with an appetizing photo, and six inflatable Mylar Idaho potato balloons. Displays were required to be in the store’s produce section for at least one week between Feb. 1 and March 28, 2026.
