Snack lovers, crunch on this: Nittany Lion blue and white potato chips.

In a research-marketing project, Penn State's departments of Horticulture and Food Science have joined Utz Quality Foods Inc. and Huntsinger Farms to manufacture a PSU tailgate-ready variety of potato chips.

These chips, which are currently only available in the four-pound-box size, will be marketed to Penn State fans for the first time tomorrow on campus.

Bill Lamont, professor of vegetable crops, said he started planning this project with Utz and Huntsinger Farms four years ago.

He said he thought these chips will market well to Penn State's tailgating crowd and other team-colored chips may be available next year.

"This is a new venture -- we are the leaders right now," he said. "The other ideas of the different colors are still in the background. An athletic chip line may be in the background, but we're the first."

Despite the blue color, food dye was not used in producing these potato chips, Lamont said .

The colorful chips are made from a potato variety called "Adirondack Blue."

Penn State alumni who work at Huntinger Farms in Heigins grew the potatoes that were used for these particular chips.

"The potato world is a wide range of colors," Lamont said. "It's just unbelievable."

Fans who would like to cash in on these blue and white chips will be able to purchase a box for $17.50 at the Cellar Market, located on campus across from the Eisenhower parking garage.

The market will be open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays with home football games.

Tricia Blackstock, Class of 2006, works at the Cellar Market.

She said though she doesn't usually eat potato chips, she did sample a few of the new chips because the potatoes had been grown by alumni at a local farm.

"It makes me feel good to eat them because they were grown in Pa.," she said. "Local produce is a priority to me."

Lamont said he is hoping for some positive feedback from the tailgating crowd.

"I think they'll respond well," he said. "They're good-tasting."