Overview
- Potatoes are the leading vegetable crop in the United States (not including sweet potatoes), contributing to about 15 percent of farm sales receipts for vegetables.
- Although potatoes are grown year round, the fall crop comprises roughly 90 percent of potato production for the year.
- Among major produce crops, potatoes are second only to grapes in farm cash receipts.
- Over 50 percent of potato sales are to processors for french fries, chips, dehydrated potatoes, and other potato products. The remainder goes to the fresh market.
- Americans consume about 130 pounds of fresh and processed potatoes annually, 40 pounds more than tomatoes, the next most commonly eaten vegetable.
- Since 2000, export volumes of potato products have averaged 4.7 million pounds, or roughly 1 percent of U.S. potato production.
ERS provides economic analyses and data on changing conditions in the U.S. potato sector. Topics include production, consumption, international trade, prices received, and more.
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