Resolution to recognize potato as official Oregon vegetable packs a peel

The Oregon Senate hashed out a decision Wednesday that may have taken the starch out of some lawmakers: a resolution to recognize the potato as the official state vegetable.

Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, is one of the sponsors of Senate Concurrent Resolution 3. In a passionate – one might say spudtacular – display, Hansell sang the potato’s praises while holding what appeared to be a brown russet in the Senate chamber. “Twenty-five percent of Oregon’s frozen french fries are shipped overseas," said Hansell. "Oregon potato farmers have donated over one million pounds of potatoes annually to the Oregon food bank. And lastly, the iconic tater tot – was developed by two brothers in Ontario, Oregon, who also created the Ore-Ida potato company. No other state can claim the tater tot as their own.”

Other lawmakers praised the potato’s part in making lefse or vodka. With no fiscal or revenue impact, enacting this proposal would be done on a shoestring budget.

The resolution passed 29-0 and now heads to the Oregon House, where Hansell seems content to let the chips fall where they may.