This article first appeared at ers.usda.gov | Updated October 28, 2011

Potatoes

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 almost 130 pounds of fresh and processed potatoes annually during the 2000s, 40 pounds more than tomatoes, the next most commonly eaten vegetable.
• Since 2000, export volumes of potato products have averaged 4.8 million pounds, or roughly 11 percent of U.S. potato production.

Accessed: August 2, 2011 at https://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Potatoes/

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