First, there was the french fry perfume. Then, there was the french fry ice cream, and now, there's a french fry... lip balm?
The Idaho Potato Commission introduced a new potato lip balm for Valentine's Day, with actual Idaho potatoes as one of its main ingredients.
Jamey Higham, a former Ricks College graduate, is the President and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission. He talked about how the lip balm idea came about this year.
"Every year we get together and have these brainstorming sessions where we come up with kind of promotional, not super serious marketing efforts," said Higham. "This year we decided to do a lip balm that smelled like french fries. It's got a little salt in it too. On your lips you can taste it. It's the fun part of what we get to do here at the commission."
If you're wondering how they infused real potatoes in the lip balm, Higham has an answer for you.
"The company that made them fried up a batch of french fries and then mashed them up really fine into some sort of paste, and then that was infused into the wax," Higham said. "It does actually have french fries in the lip balm."
With all the hype and attention surrounding the potato lip balm, Higham reminds us that the IPC isn't in it for the money or sales.
"We're just not doing it for that reason. We're doing it for the buzz that it creates," said Higham.
Higham further credited the incredible job the IPC and all their employees and partners have done in promoting the image of the Idaho potato.
"The IPC over the years has just done a tremendous job in promoting that name," Higham said. "When you hear Idaho, people just instantly think potatoes. We're just very honored to be able to represent Idaho potatoes around the world."
While the lip balm is well sold-out, the IPC hopes to continue their creative efforts in the future.