Funeral Potatoes and Doomsday Prep

Guest: Mark Augason, President of Blue Chip Group and Augason Farms Wal-Mart did an ad campaign for a freeze-dried casserole dish recently that caused a lot of consternation. People were suddenly seeing ads on Facebook for “Funeral Potatoes” and wondering what kind of sick joke the store was playing. “Is Wal-Mart threatening me?” some mused. Why would a marketing team choose such a morbid name? Well, it was all just a misunderstanding. In Utah, Idaho and other Mormon enclaves, funeral potatoes are simply what you call a baked dish of potatoes, cheese and cream soup topped with cornflakes. It’s the edible embodiment of a warm hug – which is one reason they’re so popular at funeral receptions. Hence the name.