ORE-IDA MASHES UNTRUE RUMORS OF TATER-TOTS' DEMISE (2024)

 ROANOKE TIMES Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke TimesDATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996 TAG: 9608210011SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO COLUMN: MarketplaceSOURCE: MEGAN SCHNABEL

No need to stockpile quite yet, Tater-Tot fans.

Contrary to a myth that has been circulating in some parts of Southwest Virginia - traceable, it seems, to an uninformed stockboy in a New River Valley supermarket - Ore-Ida has no plans stop making those processed, frozen,deep-fried golden potato nuggets.

The folks at Ore-Ida were flabbergasted to hear that such a rumor was floating around.

"I don't know why anybody would say that," said a company spokesman. They've manufactured Tater-Tots for decades, he said, and the potato snacks are Ore-Ida's best-selling product.

Well, all-righta.

But the Tater-Tot rumor brought up other spud-related questions.

Why, for instance, are potato chips so expensive, when you can buy five pounds of raw potatoes for less than $3 in the grocery store?

Linda McCashion, vice president of marketing for the Denver-based National Potato Promotion Board, said we shouldn't blame the farmers who produce the nation's 4.68 billion pounds of potatoes annually.

"It's not in the raw product," she said. "Potatoes are inexpensive. And they're cheaper for Frito-Lay than for you."

The price starts edging up when you factor in transportation, processing, packaging and advertising costs, according to the Alexandria-based Snack Food Association.

Not to mention the salt, oil and seasonings.

Just like wheat or corn, potatoes are a commodity whose price depends on availability. Potato processors such as Frito-Lay and Ore-Ida contract for their annual potato supply in early spring, before the spuds are planted.

Potato chip producers - "chippers," in industry lingo - buy potatoes grown specifically for that purpose.

Americans bought $4.82 billion - 1.69 billion pounds - of potato chips lastyear. The dollar amount increased from 1994, but the volume decreased - meaning that the price per pound increased.

In supermarkets, the average price per pound was $2.61 last year, up 5 cents from 1994.

The potato chip is no Johnny-come-lately on the junk food scene. According to the Snack Food Association, they were invented in 1853, when railroad tycoon Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt was vacationing at Sarasota Springs, a fashionable New York resort.

One night, so the story goes, he sent his fried potatoes back to the kitchen, complaining that they were too thick. The cook decided to have some fun with the commodore, so he sliced up a batch of paper-thin potatoes, fried them to a crisp and salted them.

Every American knows what a potato chip is. But here's what a thin-sliced, deep-fried, salted piece of potato is called in other nations:

* Swedish: potatis frit

* German: kartoffel chip

* French: pomme de terre chip

* Italian: patatine

* Spanish: frito de pata

* Russian: khrystyashchii kartofel

Americans don't eat nearly as many potatoes as Russians and Europeans do.

But we're still no slouches.

In 1995, we polished off 140.2 pounds of potatoes per person: 49.8 pounds fresh, 58.4 pounds frozen (that's where the Tater-Tots fit in), 17 pounds in chips, 13.3 pounds dehydrated (mashed potato flakes, plus reconstituted chips such as Pringles) and 1.7 pounds canned.

Consumption of frozen potatoes and chips has been increasing steadily sincethe early 1970s. The biggest growth area these days is "healthy" chips. Frito-Lay, which sells Baked Lays, estimates that 40 percent of its profit increase in 1995 came from sales of low- or no-fat snacks.

The company says the baked chips sell so quickly that grocers sometimes can't keep the product in stock.

And then there's Olestra, the fat substitute that recently won FDA approval- despite its possible side effects, including gastrointestinal problems.

The Snack Food Association's McCashion said she has tried potato chips withOlestra and was pleasantly surprised.

They even have the greasy feel of real chips, she said. Maybe manufacturerswill work out the unpleasant effects, she said.

"Even if this isn't it, we're awfully close," she said.

LENGTH: Medium: 84 linesILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by AP. color. KEYWORDS: MGR 
by CNB
ORE-IDA MASHES UNTRUE RUMORS OF TATER-TOTS' DEMISE (2024)

FAQs

ORE-IDA MASHES UNTRUE RUMORS OF TATER-TOTS' DEMISE? ›

No need to stockpile quite yet, Tater-Tot fans. Contrary to a myth that has been circulating in some parts of Southwest Virginia - traceable, it seems, to an uninformed stockboy in a New River Valley supermarket - Ore-Ida has no plans stop making those processed, frozen, deep-fried golden potato nuggets.

Are the Ore-Ida Tot-protecting pants real? ›

The inventor of Tater Tots, the Ore-Ida brand, teamed up with Searchlight Pictures to create the Ore-Ida Tot-Protecting Pants, now available for a limited time. This snack-protecting collaboration recalls Napoleon Dynamite sneaking Tater Tots into class and the school bully yelling for him to share some of them.

Are the tot-protecting pants real? ›

Created in partnership with the film by Searchlight Pictures, the “Ore-Ida Tot-Protecting Pants” are now available nationwide for a limited-time only.

Did Oregon invent the tater tot? ›

Tater Tots, one of America's most beloved frozen foods, was invented in 1953 by two enterprising brothers in Ontario, Oregon.

Which came first, fries or Tater Tots? ›

Tater tots were invented in 1953 by two brothers, Nephi and Golden Grigg, founders of the Ore-Ida company. These brothers were looking for ways to utilize leftover potato scraps leftover from the production of frozen french fries.

How much are the tater tot pants? ›

The company has released a commercial, with Jon Heder reprising his role. In it, he relives the moment his tots got crushed by his bully. Now he happily wears his tater-safe pants, which survive being run over by a van. The tot-protecting pants cost $20, pick theem up here.

What is the point of tin pants? ›

“If you've never heard of tin pants, they are a type of work trouser made from a heavy-duty tightly-woven cotton cloth that is then treated with a oil/wax formulation. The result is a pant that is waterproof, abrasion and fire resistant. The pants were developed for the logging industry in the years around 1900”.

What does Mama wears the pants mean? ›

Exercise controlling authority in a household, as in Grandma wears the pants at our house . This idiom, generally applied to women and dating from the mid-1500s, a time when they wore only skirts, equates pants with an authoritative and properly masculine role.

What gender were pants made for? ›

Archaeological evidence suggests that men and women alike wore trousers in that cultural context. However, for much of modern history, the use of trousers has been restricted to men. This norm was enforced in many regions due to social customs and laws.

Are cargo pants practical? ›

Whether for work, outdoor activities, or casual wear, cargo pants provide a balance of comfort, style, and practicality that few other pants can match. The numerous pockets offer ample storage, while the choice of materials and designs cater to various climates and activities.

What are tater tots called in England? ›

In England, they are usually called “potato crunchies,” although I also found a reference to them as “oven crunches.” In Australia, they are most commonly known as “potato gems,” “potato royals” or “potato pom poms.” I even found a German reference to Tots as “kroketten,” which probably stems from the word “croquette.” ...

What are tater tots called in Canada? ›

In Canada, McCain Foods Limited calls its line "Tasti Taters". In the Midwest states, tater tot hotdish is a popular soup-based casserole consisting of tater tots, ground beef and various vegetables. In the United States, tater tots are common at school-lunch counters and cafeterias.

What do they call tater tots in Australia? ›

The term “tater tot” is a proprietary name owned by Ore-Ida. In Australia, tots are widely called “potato gems,” and non-Ore-Ida brands have called them “tater treats,” “tasti taters,” “potato crunchies,” and “spud puppies.” Ore-Ida's website calls these imposters “imi-taters.”

Why are tater tots unhealthy? ›

Warning: There's absolutely nothing healthy or nutritionally redeeming about “tater tots.” They're straight up junk food, loaded with fat and salt. But they're also crispy, salty and simply irresistible — no matter what your age.

Did McDonald's ever have tater tots? ›

McDonald's is introducing tater tots to its menu - officially named Hash Brown Bites - and of course, they're not available in the United Sates. The Hash Brown Bites are at McDonald's Australia, and they're described as "crunchy and golden on the outside and steaming, fluffy potato on the inside." ~FlUfFy PoTaTo~.

Why are tater tots so expensive? ›

"Potatoes are inexpensive. And they're cheaper for Frito-Lay than for you." The price starts edging up when you factor in transportation, processing, packaging and advertising costs, according to the Alexandria-based Snack Food Association. Not to mention the salt, oil and seasonings.

Are Ore-Ida Tater tots? ›

Ore-Ida - Frozen Potatoes - Tater Tots | Kraft Heinz | Kraft Heinz.

Who invented tater tots? ›

From tater treats to imi-taters

Tater tots were invented by F. Nephi Grigg of Ore-Ida in 1953 as a way to use excess potato shavings that came from making frozen french fries. Originally, the shavings were sold as livestock feed. The term “tater tot” is a proprietary name owned by Ore-Ida.

Where is Ore-Ida based? ›

Ore-Ida's primary production facility is located in Ontario, Oregon, near the Idaho border where the company was originally founded in 1949.

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