Idaho officials designing giant, glow-in-the-dark potato

KETCHUM, Idaho – Idaho officials plan to replace a 6-ton potato replica used for advertising with one that glows in the dark.

Idaho Potato Commission officials say it will be lighter and leaner than the Great Big Idaho Potato Truck’s current Russet Burbank potato replica, the Capital Press reported.

The potato truck is used to promote the Idaho brand and has traveled over 148,000 miles and toured through 7,200 cities in six years.

By making the new model 2 feet narrower, the potato truck will be able to operate without wide-load restrictions, permitting it to drive at night so the glow-in-the-dark spud can shine during nighttime parades, Idaho Potato Commission President and CEO Frank Muir said.

Officials intend to make the new model look almost identical to the current one and keep it at 27 feet long.

“The potato will look like it magically is glowing, and people will absolutely love it,” Muir said, while announcing the plans during the Idaho Grower Shippers Association’s 89th Annual Convention last month.