Grocer aims for record pile of potatoes

Fircrest — Chuck’s Produce says a supersized stack of spuds at its market is the largest in the world. The store claims an unofficial world record for its 138,000-pound russet potato display, created with help from the Washington State Potato Commission. The pile of spuds, enough to make 552,000 servings of mashed potatoes, came early last week from Tri-Cities Produce in Pasco. Paul Todak, produce manager for Chuck’s Produce & Street Market, said he got the idea to pile as many potatoes as possible after attending a grocers conference; he learned a Canadian grocery chain claimed in October that its 92,500-pound display was the largest in the world. “We just decided to do it very spur of the moment,” said Alice Stricker, store marketing director. Chuck’s Produce at 13215 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. is holding a pre-Thanksgiving sale with hopes that its customers will buy all of the potatoes well before they go bad. “I think we’ll be fine, especially with the holidays coming,” Stricker said.