The famed mascot of the U.S. Potato Board will make one last appearance at the 2007 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The board says it plans to retire the balloon after this year’s parade. So, you might want to make a special effort to catch the annual parade and get a final glimpse at the cheerfully oversized, classic ag icon.

The U.S. Potato Board doesn’t want consumers to leave potatoes out of their Thanksgiving feasts. One of this year’s balloon handlers and an eager spokesman for potatoes, Amy Morrison, says Americans consume more than 300 million pounds of potatoes each Thanksgiving. She adds that one potato contains more vitamin C and more potassium than a banana. The potato is packed with nutrients, but it’s not packed with calories. One potato contains about 100 calories.