Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

Retail potato sales reached a five-year record high July 2019 through June 2020. U.S. potato marketing organization Potatoes USA reports total potato sales increased by 11 percent in dollars and ten percent in volume. Every category, except deli-prepared sides, increased in both dollar and volume sales. Frozen, dehydrated, and canned potatoes saw double-digit increases in both dollar and volume sales. Potato chips and fresh potatoes make up the majority of volume sales, and both saw increases in dollars and volume. Fresh potato sales increased 15 percent and ten percent in volume sales compared to the previous year. All fresh potato types increased in volume sales, except for red and fingerling potatoes. Petite potatoes had the highest increase in dollar and volume sales. All pack sizes showed double-digit growth in dollar sales. Pack sizes greater than ten-pound bags saw an increase in excess of 20 percent in dollar and volume sales. Fresh potatoes had a larger dollar sales increase than any of the last five marketing years.