More than 30 countries were represented at the 18th Annual Potato Expo in Dallas
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
With more than 2,100 attendees and 196 exhibitors, Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas was proof positive that everything really is bigger in Texas, including the oversize cowboy at the Potatoes USA booth.
As the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry in North America, Potato Expo 2026, January 6-8 at the Gaylord Texan, in Dallas, brought together growers, manufacturers, suppliers, value chain partners, and industry leaders from the United States and 30 other countries.
More than 2,100 attendees visited the booths of 196 exhibitors, placing Potato Expo 2026, organized by the National Potato Council, in the top three largest such events in the show’s history.
Many potato associations and organizations support the show and take advantage of the business opportunities it presents, with Potatoes USA holding its Winter Meeting for three days leading up to Potato Expo, this year in the Gaylord Texan.
Affiliated organizational gatherings include the United Potato Growers of Canada Board meeting, Potato Sustainability Alliance General Meeting and Reception, United Potato Growers of America Board Meeting, the National Potato Council Past Presidents and Executive Committee Dinner, the Annual Meeting of the Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF), and more.
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) teams up with the University of Wisconsin Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association to host a Wisconsin Certified Seed Potatoes booth at Potato Expo.
Providing full Potatoes USA reports during the Winter Meeting were the Consumer; Retail; Market Development; Culinary; Finance & Policy; Production Research; Foodservice; Communications; and Nutrition & Health committees; as well as the Seed Task Force.
The Potatoes USA Nutrition & Health Committee anticipated the release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2026-2030) the day after the Winter Meeting, January 7, with the guidelines providing science-based advice on meeting nutrient needs, promoting health and preventing disease.
Fresh potatoes were included in the new guidelines, which prioritize protein and vegetables. At the top of the USDA’s new food pyramid are protein, dairy, healthy fats, vegetables and fruits.
