Powered by Potatoes!

Seattle to Portland finisher Chris Voigt is powered by potatoes. 

As the executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, Voigt once ate nothing but potatoes for two months (aside from salt, seasonings, and a little cooking oil). 

The publicity stunt got worldwide media attention–and proved a point to tater haters: these humble tubers are a superfood. 

After eating 400 pounds of potatoes over 60 days, Voigt emerged healthier than before. His cholesterol and blood sugar levels decreased, and he lost 18 pounds.

As Voigt prepares for his third Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic in 2025, Cascade visited the Washington State Potato Commission in Moses Lake and went for a bike ride with Voigt to witness the fall potato harvest.

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Read our Q&A with Voigt to learn why he loves bicycling, why he eats his fries first, and why STP participants may want to swap that healthy banana for an even more nutritious baked potato.

Cascade: The french fry truck at the halfway point of STP in Centralia is hugely popular with riders. Why does the Washington State Potato Commission support Cascade and STP?

Voigt: We want to fortify the message of healthy living, exercise, and healthy eating. A potato has more potassium than a banana, almost half the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, and lots of fiber. Partnering with Cascade and bringing our fry truck to STP is a great way to get the word out about how incredibly healthy potatoes are, and why lots of endurance athletes are including potatoes in their diets.

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Cascade: Why do you ride bikes?
Voigt: For an older guy like me with a bad knee, bicycling is the perfect low-impact exercise. You also see so much scenery. I love backpacking, but it’s slower-paced and you don’t get to see as much as when you’re on a bike. 

Cascade: What do you enjoy about STP?
Voigt: I’ve ridden it twice and loved it both times. The first time was in 2019 before COVID-19, and then again in the summer of 2023. I was hoping to do it again this year but I was recovering from a bad skiing crash last winter. But I’ll be back in 2025. RSVP (the Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party) also looks like a lot of fun and I may do that ride as well this year.

The other thing I love about STP is the camaraderie of common souls coming together to participate in this bucket-list Pacific Northwest event. And STP is so well-supported, probably the best-organized bike event I’ve ever been to in my life. Everyone is helpful and happy. There’s such a great vibe. 

STP is also incredibly fun for my staff who work the french fry truck. We do events throughout the state, and if you asked my staff what their favorite event is, 100 percent of them will all say “STP.” They love it because everybody is so appreciative of getting these delicious, locally grown french fries.

Cascade: Some people think that french fries are junk food, but when done well they are actually quite healthy, right?
Voigt: Absolutely. It’s a minimally processed food with just three ingredients. You cut a potato into pieces and cook it in healthy unsaturated fats like canola or avocado or olive oil, and then add salt or seasonings. Basically you are taking a whole food and minimally preparing it and cooking it up in some healthy fats. French fries are great in moderation and they fit into a healthy diet, especially when bicycling 206 miles over two days!

Cascade: Do you have any french fry tips?
Voigt: Yes, eat your fries first! So many people start chowing down on that burger. No! Eat the fries first, before they go cold.

Cascade: What makes Washington state potatoes special?
Voigt: Washington is the second-largest potato producer in the nation, thanks to our long summer days and cool nights, and our precision irrigation techniques. We have the highest yield of potatoes per acre in the world. And we are always doing research to grow potatoes more efficiently and sustainably, with less water and fertilizer. 

Rice is the most widely eaten commodity crop, but potatoes are a winner from a sustainability perspective. Potatoes need 10 times less water. You can produce five times more food and calories on an acre of land with potatoes than rice. And potatoes require less fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer is a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, so figuring out how to use less is really important. Less land, less water, and less fertilizer. This is why China and India have become the world’s largest potato producers. 

Cascade: How can people learn more about Washington potatoes? 
Voigt: Go to potatoes.com and come get some fries during STP! We always want to remind people that potatoes are a great source of nutrition and part of a healthy diet, especially for endurance athletes and people riding 206 miles.

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Join Team Potato!

• Cascade member registration for STP 2025 opens Jan. 7. Register here!
• Hankering for taters? Get recipes, learn about Washington potato farmers, read the commission’s research, and subscribe to Washington Grown magazine at potatoes.com
• Listen to Voigt on the Cycling Over Sixty Podcast where he talks about his two-month potato diet–and how Washington’s original potato, the Ozette, is still grown near Neah Bay by the Makah Tribe.
• Sign up for Team Potato and get a Powered by Potatoes cycling jersey. The commission reimburses registration fees for qualifying Team Potato members. That means you could be reimbursed for your STP registration!

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