The Most Unexpected Halloween Treat? A Potato. It's Called Trick-or-Tater

What began on a few porches is now a national tradition, with more households dropping spuds into the candy bowl

DENVER, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Halloween is all about the potato. For the last several years, kids have been reaching for potatoes instead of candy.

It's called Trick-or-Tater, the growing trend of handing out potatoes alongside the usual fun-size candy. Some families have been at it for more than a decade, and each Halloween, more join in. The Wall Street Journal said what "started as a lark has gained steam in recent years," and NBC Nightly News called potatoes "the new star of spooky season." This year, Potatoes USA is encouraging people to keep the tradition going and pair those potatoes with a fun lineup of "spooky spud" recipes to celebrate all month long.

"I wanted to offer something different from every other house on the street, so kids can choose a full-size candy bar, a small toy, or a potato," said Maren from Virginia. "I get asked 'why?' a lot, and I say, 'Why not?' I ran out of potatoes in our second year because word got around. Kids were yelling from the top of the driveway, 'Is this the potato house?' Last year we went through about 25 pounds of potatoes, up from 16 the year before. With Halloween on a Saturday this year, I'm planning for a lot of tater-or-treaters."

Spuds on the Stoop: Meet the Trick-or-Taters

That reaction has carried the trend well beyond any one porch. Videos of kids grabbing spuds off the stoop have racked up hundreds of thousands of views and inspired others to make the trend their own.

"We first tried Trick-or-Tater last year at the Halloween festival in downtown Houlton, Maine," said Dan Corey, a potato farmer with operations in Maine and Florida. "We brought out a tractor, filled an entire trailer with potato chips, and set out boxes of chips alongside it, and the kids came running! They climbed up on the tractor, pretended to drive it, and walked away with a bag of chips. It was such a hit that we're doing it again this year. Making it part of the festival turned it into something the whole community could share."

At home, Trick-or-Tater households tend to mix the spuds into the candy bowl, so trick-or-treaters can choose. Many families report that they even ran out of potatoes and plan to pick up more this year.

"As a music teacher, I love finding ways to get kids excited about reading music, so on Halloween I post a short rhythm on my front door," added Karen Crews Gregg, a band director in Lyons, Colorado. "Kids knock the rhythm, and if they get it right, they can choose candy or a potato. Last year I went through four bags of potatoes! My favorite part is listening to groups of kids practicing the rhythm together before they knock so they can earn a potato. Plus - now that I'm coaching cross country, too, I have even more reason to send kids home with a vegetable!"

Potatoes offer a welcome balance to the holiday's sweet treats. A nutrient-dense vegetable, one medium 5.3 oz skin-on potato has more potassium than a banana (620 mg vs. 422 mg) and is an excellent source of vitamin C (30% of the daily value).

Spooky Spud Recipes for Every Halloween Gathering

Whether you're hosting a monster bash or just fueling the family for a night of trick-or-treating, potatoes are hearty enough to anchor the table.

"Last year a two-year-old picked a potato, held it up to her mom and said, 'Mom, make mashed potato.' Then a group of high schoolers in a group costume all chose potatoes, circled up on the driveway, held them in the air and yelled, 'Power to the potato!' I wish I'd gotten it on camera," added Maren.

Potatoes USA's chefs have cooked up a new lineup of spooky spud recipes for the season:

• Spooky Spud Skulls: Crispy skull-shaped potatoes become the perfect base for cheese and pepperoni—a frightful appetizer everyone will love.
• Monster Mash: This monster mash features green mashed potatoes that are delicious and nutritious. Why not play with your food and eat it too?
• Mashed Potato Mummy Meatloaf Cupcakes: Perfect for a Halloween-inspired family dinner or a savory cupcake-decorating station at any spooky celebration.

Find more spooky spud inspiration at PotatoGoodness.com. Stocking the candy bowl with spuds this year? Tag us at @PotatoGoodness on Instagram and TikTok!

About Potatoes USA

As representatives of U.S. potato growers and importers, Potatoes USA's mission is to strengthen the demand for potatoes through marketing and research. By launching impactful marketing campaigns; coordinating regional, national, and international market and production research; and establishing new trade markets, Potatoes USA promotes the benefits of potatoes to audiences across the globe, including consumers, foodservice operators, retailers, and health professionals. For more information on America's Favorite Vegetable, please visit PotatoGoodness.com and PotatoesUSA.com.

Contact:
Erin Bracken
[email protected]

SOURCE Potatoes USA