The story behind Ohio spuds

Ohio's reputation as a corn-oriented state is well-earned, but it has some fascinating potato ties, too.

Behind the spuds: It's National Potato Day — yes, there is a niche holiday for just about everything.

Flashback: Although Ohio isn't a potato-heavy state today, Cuyahoga County once produced more than a million bushels a year.

• Mikesell's Potato Chips shipped chips across the country from Dayton for more than a century before Zanesville company Conn's bought the brand in 2023.
• Today, there are more than a dozen chip manufacturers around the state.

For more than 50 years, the Mantua Potato Festival celebrated the beloved starch.

• But last year's event was canceled and it's unclear if it will return.
• You can still visit the newer Dayton Potato Festival, though.

What's next: The future of potato innovation could come from OSU's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

• Based in Wooster, the center studies agricultural bioscience and agribusiness, including potatoes.