How much do you know about Beautiful Idaho? Did you know that they supply the USA with 1/3 of it’s potatoes? Did you know that these people love their land and are some of the best folks I have ever met?
Recently I was on a Idaho Potato Harvest Tour sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission. We all met up in Idaho Falls for an amazing 3 day adventure.
This trip changed a girl who was OK with potatoes to a gal obsessed with everything potato! I even created a Hot Potato Pinterest board (of course)
Let’s take a look at Famous Idaho Potatoes….
Farmland
I love the country and farms. As a matter of fact I have a few Pinterest boards dedicated to this too. Any opportunity I can visit a farm thrills me.
See, don’t I look happy on the farm?! (Thanks Rachael for snapping this photo)
I begged the whole trip to have the opportunity to take photos of old barns.
My wish was delivered…one of the most beautiful old barns I have ever seen!
Beautiful Idaho!
I never knew this state was so gorgeous. (I kinda thought ~ but needed to confirm with a visit)
From sweeping fields with bluebird skies to the Grand Teton mountain range and silvery Snake River. Stunning! All of it.
I can proudly wear my cowboy boots in Idaho…it’s that kind of place.
My favorite new Lucchese’s.
Corn Mazes
Not only did we see potatoes but we saw some corn too. Talk about a social ice breaker?
Next time you throw an event have the introductions take place in a corn maze ~ a fantastic way to hone survival skills and trust in others!
Thank goodness for fearless leaders. Patti made sure we all made it outta there without getting freaked out and lost.
Corn, onions and potatoes are all crops found in glorious Idaho.
Generations of Farmers
Idaho farmers love what they do and they subsist on the family business generation after generation.
We enjoyed dinner hosted by the lovely Hoff family on their farm appropriately named the Rainbow Ranch. They treated us to amazing food and showed us around their beautiful potato farm. Not only do they farm, but they have an airplane, car and motorcycle collection that had us all swooning!
We also met generations of packers, processors and great people from the Idaho Potato Commission.
The potato business is big and booming in Idaho and people take it seriously.
Famous Potato License Plates
They take potatoes so seriously in Idaho that the state license plate has a baked potato with a slab of butter on it. You can take or leave that graphic option, you go with simply “Famous Potatoes”
Neat huh! I love how well they have branded potatoes.
Beautiful People
My guy readers will love this…
How cute is this gal? She drives that big potato truck! She was very patient as we all took bunches of photos.
While Nikelle worked we clicked away. All of the people we met on our tour were so kind and fun to be around.
They love where they live and what they do for a living. They grow, ship, process and care for potatoes like you would not believe!
Famous Potatoes!
What would a harvest tour be without harvesting and tasting tons of Famous Potatoes?! I started off this trip thinking potatoes were just OK ~ I cook them all the time because my hubs and kids love spuds. Well, let’s say that now they have become a staple on my favorites list too!
On this tour I enjoyed potatoes in sweets, savories and everything in between. Some of my favorite dishes were gnocchi, potato gratin and a potato egg breakfast casserole.
I left Idaho amazed at how many recipes can be developed using potatoes. I love that you can pull them from the earth and have a healthy meal in no time at all. From farm to fork ~ that is the Famous Idaho Potato.
Jim Tiede showed us around the harvest fields and how to dig up potatoes…
We went to storage, shipping and packaging facilities too.
I was obsessed with the old bits of machinery. My pal RJ was wondering what my obsession was all about. He was filling me in on what these gizmos are for.
I guess they are older machinery parts that can be used if something breaks down. Is that right RJ?!
A lot of folks enjoy the convenience of quick cooking potato flakes. The fabulous folks at Idahoan took us on a tour of their processing plant. I love that they have an all-natural Honest Earth potatoes seasoned simply with butter and salt. Perfect for those nights when you have nothing prepared at home or you just need a quick nourishing and comforting meal.
Versatility
The one thing I love most about potatoes is how they can be used for healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. They are perfect for the lunchbox too!
Stay tuned for a GREAT recipe I just developed & photographed for you.
In the mean time here are a few recipes from MarlaMeridith.com to try right now…
- Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes
- Everyone’s Favorite Teeny Tiny Potatoes
- Basic Baked Potato
- Thai Spiced Baked French Fries
Energy Packed Whole Food
I love that potatoes give you lots of go juice!
This energy packed tuber has loads of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Wikipedia says this: Humans can actually survive healthily on a diet of potatoes supplemented only with milk or butter, which contain the two vitamins not provided by potatoes (vitamins A and D) That is one hot potato!
Potatoes are a very affordable & nutritious way to feed your family. Prepared with minimal effort you can have a healthy, tasty meal on the table and plenty of leftovers if you make enough.
The other thing I like is that potatoes last a good amount of time when you store them at room temperature ~ a great grab and go food.
Pop ’em in the oven or microwave to cook while you run around the house doing all the things that need to get done.
Grand Teton Mountains
The last night of our trip we were indulged with a stay at the Teton Springs Lodge in Victor, Idaho.
This resort is well appointed and beautiful! What’s not to love when you are greeted with mountains and a rainbow? It also has one of the world’s best golf courses.
I was wowed by the rooms, pool and the spa.
I did not have enough time for a spa treatment, but it is high on my priority list to have one at the lodge.This is a place I would love to take my family to someday. Only 40 minutes away is the famous ski resort Jackson Hole in Wyoming. I will be returning to this area for certain!
We had a stunning twilight horseback ride at the Linn Canyon Ranch in Teton Valley.
I will never forget the golden glow that night.
The sun was setting and reflecting off the golden fall leaves. I am so happy I was able to share this experience with my friends.
We all giggled, laughed, smiled and were a bright eyed bunch the entire ride.
Horseback was followed by an unforgettable gourmet dinner at the ranch.
That’s all for now folks. Stay tuned for delicious potato recipes I will be posting soon. I can’t wait to share my new favorite whole food with you.
Thank you very much to the Idaho Potato Commission for such a well planned and inspirational trip.
Hope yo see you again soon Beautiful Idaho!
Our Fabulous Group
I had a lot of friends on this trip and met a bunch of new ones.
Greg from Sippity Sup can see as far as the eye can see ~ with potato glasses! See that pretty lady digging up potatoes? I am so happy I had the opportunity to meet Jessica, The Novice Chef. She is hilarious and is at the ready to teach me helpful beauty tricks and tips.
Bloggers on this trip…
- Dorothy Reinhold, Shockingly Delicious
- Greg Henry, Sippity Sup
- Jessica Reddick, My Baking Heart
- Jessica Segarra, The Novice Chef
- Julie Deily, The Little Kitchen
- Marla Meridith, MarlaMeridith.com
- Meagan Micozzi, Scarletta Bakes
- Nicole Presley, Presley’s Pantry
- Patti Londre, Worth the Whisk
- Rachael Hutchings, La Fuji Mama
- Sara O’Donnell, Average Betty
Related Links
Disclosure: It is my pleasure to be working with the Idaho Potato Commission to help spread the word about delicious Idaho® potatoes.
Beautiful landscapes, pretty boots and gorgeous potatoes! A vegetable I absolutely adore.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa ~ glad you enjoyed the eye candy today! XO
Marla your photos of your trips always make me want to jump in the car or plane and GO!!! what a fabulous time you all had! Thanks for sharing – we love potatoes, so I can’t wait to see your latest creation!
Marla this looks like your kind of trip – just the landscape, the vibe, the whole thing, looks right up your alley and as always, beautiful images! I know this must have taken you ages, and it’s appreciated 🙂
Averie, you sure know how those edits go. A long process indeed ~ well worth it though. I love sharing my travel adventures with you guys. This trip was definitely right up my alley on all accounts.Glad you enjoyed the virtual tour of Idaho 🙂
Marla, it really was SUCH a great time traveling the Idaho Potato Harvest Tour with you and THANK YOU for this gorgeous writeup. Cannot wait to try your upcoming potato recipes!
Hi Patti (our fearless camp counselor + corn maze map reader) glad you enjoyed my re-cap. Hopefully we can all have an Idaho reunion some day soon 🙂
Sakes alive, lady! I’m not even a leeeeeetle bit surprised, but these photos are stunning. You know your way around a lens, as well as a potato – those Thai-Spiced Baked Fries will be on my dinner table this week!
I can’t tell you what a pleasure it was to finally meet you in person, and to experience some amazing potato country with you and our fantastic group. Thank you for SUCH a spectacular review!!
Meagan, hope you get to try those fries soon! It was certainly a highlight getting to know you on the Harvest Tour! You are fabulous and I LOVE your sense of humor 🙂
There I am acting silly again! GREG
Greg, your silly is always a little bit fabulous!! XO
Wowza! You did such a good job of capturing this trip in photos, Marla! Stunning!!
Thanks Jessica!! It truly was an amazing experience getting to know you on this adventure 🙂 XO
What a great trip – and love love love the fancy boots!
Lucy, aren’t those boots a kick?!
fun, fun, fun, Marla! Gorgeous photos, too!
Absolutely gorgeous photos, Marla! Loved getting to know you and I hope we run into each other again soon! 🙂
Marla, Even though this was not a Idaho Tourism media trip, you sure know how to photograph and appreciate our little slice of heaven. We know the place is gorgeous but your pictures really do it justice. Thank you for your lovely words and spectacular photography.
PS. Did you bring those fabulous boots or did you find them on your eastern Idaho travels? I saw some like that in Wyoming last year and was soooo tempted.
Hi Karen, I am so happy you found my post today! I would love to learn more about Beautiful Idaho and I hope we can connect so I can see more of the state. There are so many areas there I would love to visit ~ with my camera of course! My boots ~ bought those in Telluride, CO this summer. Wyoming ~ I have never been but will be visiting there for the first time this January. Will be skiing Jackson Hole. Soooo excited for that!
I absolutely adore potatoes (must be my Irish heritage) and am now chomping at the bit to get to Idaho and see all that beauty for myself! My husband went to Navy training school there and loved it, but I’ve never been. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos and wonderful information about potatoes.
Hi Lana! That is so neat that your husband spent his training in Idaho. Glad I could make you crave those potatoes! Hopefully you can both head out that way someday together. You would love it!
You are singing my song! I’m a born and raised Idahoan and I used to work in those fields moving pipe, picking rock, and riding the harvester during spud harvest. I love this time of year! Thanks for the beautiful pics. I’m not too far away in Utah now, but I still miss Fall Harvest.
Rachelle, you lucky lady!!! How awesome that you grew up in Beautiful Idaho! Awesome that you used to operate all of that equipment for harvest. Bet you have amazing memories and stories!
I absolutely love your photos and recap. I wanted to go on this trip so badly but had to decline because it fell during the Jewish holidays. I would have loved to meet you too! Hopefully on another trip soon 🙂
Cara, it would have been wonderful to meet you on this Harvest Tour! Hopefully sometime soon 🙂
Isn’t Idaho just absolutely gorgeous? We went for the first time last summer and I just fell in love with it. Your photos are just amazing, girl!
Thanks so much Robyn. It really is so beautiful there. I bet you had a great visit in the summer. What part were you in?
What a wonderful post. The pictures are so pretty that I felt like I was there. They are a work of art. Now I’m craving everything potato.
Thanks so much Nancy! Glad I can take you on this journey 🙂
I tend to not eat too many potatoes but you’ve definitely made me rethink that!
Joanne, amazing how our minds can change with the right inspiration!
What an awesome trip you went on! A trip filled with potato dishes? That would be right up my alley 🙂 Have you ever read about the Great Irish Potato Famine? I researched and did a speech about it last spring and it is VERY interesting. Might be something you’d find interesting as well!
I grew up in Blackfoot, ID, which is about 30 miles south of Idaho Falls. Every fall we had two weeks off from school for “Harvest Break” so all the farm kids could go help with the potato harvest (my parents weren’t farmers). There was also a potato museum in town. You aren’t kidding when you say that they take potatoes seriously.
I live in California now and miss Idaho terribly. I’m hoping to move back in a year or two. I feel like a little piece of me is missing when I’m away.
The Tetons are gorgeous. Next time you go – see the Sawtooth mountains as well, they’re beautiful.
Thanks for the great post. Always enjoy your pictures. Come and visit us this week. We are having a wonderful giveaway you will love.
I love how each click told a story — beautiful photos, Marla and thanks for sharing Idaho with us 🙂
Thanks Kiran, so glad you enjoyed “each click” 🙂
What a beautiful trip and great way to sample some of the states finest!
Looks like you got a good sense of the midwestern charm. Sounds like a fun trip!
Marla what a fabulous travelogue! The photos tell the tale completely. I love trips like this where there is so much to learn. Love that you showcased your fellow travelers too. Very nice.
Thanks so much Toni ~ glad you enjoyed the virtual tour of Idaho 🙂
Wow! You really were able to bring us all there with you. What a beautiful presentation. I’m also glad to see potatoes highlighted as they get a bad rap. They are actually a healthy food, it is all what we do to them that makes the difference. Thank you for sharing.
I grew up on a farm, and your photos bring back wonderful memories! =)
what a nice trip
Incredible photos!
nice !