Show Stoppers: Watch for the 35th Annual Retail Display Contest Starring Idaho Potatoes

January 14, 2026

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Idaho Potato Commission to Award Luxury TV Sweepstakes Prizes

Three regional retail winners will be able to select the television set of their dreams – up to a $3,500 value – as their grand prize in the 2026 Idaho® Potato Lovers Display Contest.

“We will even make sure their new television set is delivered right to their home,” says Ross Johnson, Idaho Potato Commission vice president of retail. “All the winners have to do is sit back in their favorite recliner, pop open their favorite beverage, and take their new remote control for a spin.”

Every qualified entrant will also receive an exclusive mini portable 4K projector that allows direct projection from an iPhone or Android device. Equipped with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, the projector has a 180-degree rotation feature that enables it to project on a wall, ceiling or inclined surface.

The 35th annual Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest, which awards more than $150,000 in cash and prizes, provides the perfect place for stores to showcase the creativity and sales expertise of their produce managers. These secondary displays also can drive higher sales, Johnson says: Test stores with secondary displays of Idaho russets delivered a nearly 10 times growth advantage, while comparison stores with no secondary display achieved an average category growth of only 2.5 percent, according to IPC research.

Fresh Thyme Market – Ypsilanti, Michigan 
Maxwell’s Big Star – Bolivar, Tennessee
Tops Markets – Depew, New York  
Superior Grocers – Covina, California

The Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest runs from Feb. 1 through March 28, 2026, and all entries must be received no later than April 15, 2026. Retailers can participate by building an attractive and memorable display in the produce department that includes fresh Idaho potatoes (bag, bulk or both) with a clear label showing the Idaho name and the “Grown in Idaho®” seal. (Displays may not include potato products from other states.) The display must be up in the store’s produce section for at least one week during the contest period.

The display must also 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 featuring an appetizing photo, and six inflatable Mylar™ Idaho potato balloons. For more point-of-sale clip art and delicious recipes, go to the Idaho potato website: idahopotato.com/retail.

Display entries can be any size but are limited to one per store. Retailers will compete with other same-size stores in one of three categories: 1-5 cash registers, 6-9 cash registers, or 10+ cash registers. Within each store category, entrants are 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 (100 selected from remaining entries)

The Category Manager Match Program will award equivalent prizes to corporate category managers for stores that qualify for a 1st through 5th place prize, including a chance to win one of the three television set grand prizes.

The Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest Review Committee will judge all displays on a point system based on use of fresh Idaho potato products, use of IPC-provided point-of-sale materials, salability of the display, and creative elements. The top winners will be notified by June 1, 2026, and all winners will be posted on the IPC website by June 15, 2026: idahopotato.com/retail.  

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