Diet feeds media frenzy

MOSES LAKE — Chris Voigt’s 60-day potato diet attracted an onslaught of print, radio and television coverage worldwide.

Voigt, the executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, ended the diet earlier this month.

During the diet’s duration, Voigt posted story and footage links on the diet’s Web site, www.20potatoesaday.com.

“We’ve had different searches going on, to see where he puffed up on a blog,” explained Karen Bonaudi, the commission’s assistant executive director. “It was absolutely frantic. We had no idea going in it would be fast and furious.”

Some of Voigt’s media experiences include a Minneapolis-based morning radio show called Two Dorks and The Gayle King Show, on Oprah Radio.

Although the diet is over, it still needs to be determined how the effort can be carried forward, Bonaudi explained.

Obviously, there won’t be another diet, she said. “But so many people want to continue the dialogues,” Bonaudi added.

They have to figure out how to not let his fan base down, while not allowing that work to take over his job like it did, she said.

The week his diet ended, Voigt was flown to New York City to appear on “The Today Show” for a three-minute interview.

His flight and hotel stay were paid for by the show.

He arrived on the set at 7:30 a.m. to shoot some promos.

During this time, he had a chance to hang out with anchor Ann Curry and co-anchors Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer.

“They’re really nice,” Voigt said. “Meredith is a huge potato lover. Matt is fun to be around.”

Voigt explained how efforts behind the scenes were like “an assembly line.”

There are four or five different areas where interviews are done. Anchors are also running out into the crowd to meet their viewers.

“It’s very much like clockwork,” he noted. “It’s really a fun and exciting place to be.”

Voigt said the show opened with Lauer sharing the medical results of the diet.

A dietician/nutritionist was also on the show and commented about the eating plan.

It’s likely post-diet coverage continues because the reason Voigt started the diet hasn’t been resolved.

The USDA is still not providing potatoes to recipients of the Woman, Infant and Children’s Program.