If you happen to catch a glimpse of a six ton Idaho potato on the back of an 18-wheeler, do not be fooled by its logo that reads, Its Real. Designed and marketed in 2012 to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Idaho Potato Commission, this giant potato is 12,130 pounds of steel, plywood, foam and polymerized concrete. It has been hauled across the country, making a special stop to float on a barge in the Hudson River.
A tug boat on the Hudson pulling an 18-wheeler w the world’s largest potato on it. Not a joke #ItsRealPotatoTruck pic.twitter.com/8Qyqfx02KT
Kyle Decker (@sho_nuff_kd) 24 de agosto de 2016
The Big Idaho Potato tour made a point to visit the Big Apple because New York just happens to purchase the largest number of potatoes than any other state in America. Tour ambassador, Ellis Nanney, said they wanted to make sure they showed the city their appreciation. However, many people did not enjoy being deceived into thinking the giant potato was real. Many took to social media to voice their displeasure. Fortunately, the tour only ended up with even more notoriety.
From @wcbs880 #Chopper880: A giant potato, on a TT, on a barge, on the Hudson River; #OnlyInNewYork; #LotsaTots pic.twitter.com/p1F9knqBaY
Tom Kaminski (@TomKaminskiWCBS) 24 de agosto de 2016
To actually grow a potato this large would take over 10,000 years. The largest potato ever grown is only a recorded 11 pounds, a far cry from this mammoth spud. According to Big Idaho Potato website, eating a six ton potato would be virtually impossible, as it would take just under three years to cook throughout. It would be equivalent to cooking 32,346 potatoes of medium size.