10 Super Valuable Idaho Crops That No One Talks About

We say, "Idaho," they say, "potato!" 

We know, we know 🙄

When people think of Idaho, they associate us with all things potato. From our potato farms and famous fried potato ice cream, to the 17-foot-long potato the Idaho Potato Commission ceremoniously drops from a crane over downtown Boise on New Years Eve, people think potatoes are the center of Idaho's universe.

FYI: we're well aware of the fact that the ostentatious potato drop fans the flames of our perceived potato obsession. We're lookin' at you, Idaho Potato Commission.

Idaho doesn't just run on potatoes, y'all. 

We know it's hard for many (if not most) outsiders to believe, but there's more to Idaho agriculture than the oblong russet. Have we more than doubled our potato tonnage output since the 1980s? Yes. Do potatoes chip in about $4 billion to Idaho's economy each year? Also yes. But did you know Idaho farmers raise 24 other crops?

Idaho’s 25,000 farms and ranches produce more than 185 different commodities, and we’re ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. for production of more than 25 crops and livestock.

-Idaho State Department of Agriculture

Since we're on the subject, ISDA also reports Idaho agriculture overall is at an all-time high. It accounts for 18% of Idaho’s economy and total economic output, with food and beverage processing being our state’s second largest manufacturing sector.

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Don't get us wrong. We're proud of Idaho potatoes!

Morning, noon, and night, we think potatoes are the bee's proverbial knees. And, accept for when we're downwind of a mint field that always smells like stale pot to us, we're pretty big fans of all our native crops. See for yourself in the gallery below.

Scroll for 10 Idaho crops no one ever talks about!

Keep scrolling for...

• Yes, you really can go to jail for growing illegal potatoes in Idaho. 

• Potato poisoning is real, & it can have up to 9 horrible side effects

• 10 potato facts you probably didn't know

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