From July 2024 to March 2025, U.S. retail sales of potatoes exhibited a strong performance with a 2.3% increase in volume compared to the same period last year. Despite this growth, there was a slight decline of 0.5% in dollar sales, totaling $14.72 billion. This trend highlights continued consumer interest in potatoes as a nutrient-dense food option.
Sales volume increased across several categories, including fresh potatoes (+2%), chips (+2.6%), and frozen potatoes (+4.9%). Conversely, there were declines in deli-prepared sides and dehydrated potatoes, dropping by 4.5% and 2.7% respectively. However, dehydrated potatoes and deli-prepared sides represent a small portion of the total sales volume, with the former accounting for less than 6% and the latter less than 1% when measured by fresh weight equivalent.
In terms of dollar sales, potato chips and refrigerated/deli potatoes saw increases of 1.6% and 2.3% respectively. On the other hand, fresh and dehydrated potatoes experienced declines in dollar sales by 4.7% and 3.2%.
During each quarter of this period, retail prices for potatoes declined compared to the same quarters of the previous year. Overall, average retail prices decreased by 2.8% to $2.26 per pound, driven by a 6.6% drop for fresh potatoes, priced at $0.89 per pound. Notably, russet potato prices dropped by 13.6%, while only refrigerated/deli potatoes (+1.5%) and deli-prepared sides (+1.9%) saw slight price increases.
Volume sales improved for all fresh potato pack sizes except five-pound packs and those over 10 pounds. The largest growth was seen in eight-pound packs (+18.5%), followed by two- to four-pound packs (+10.8%) and one to less than two-pound packs (+6.4%). Packs exceeding 10 pounds registered a decline in both volume (-27.1%) and dollar (-11.4%) sales.
Within the fresh category, sales by potato type varied. Russets (+4.3%), yellows (+3.9%), and petites (+7.3%) saw volume growth, whereas reds (-14%), whites (-3.2%), medleys (-7.6%), and purples (-9.3%) recorded volume declines. Dollar sales reflected overall fresh price reductions, falling by 4.7%. However, yellows (+5.7%), petites (+3.4%), and fingerlings (+2.4%) experienced sales increases, while decreases were noted for russets (-9.9%), whites (-11.9%), reds (-8.8%), purples (-8.5%), and medleys (-2.9%).
Prices decreased for chips, frozen, and dehydrated potatoes, alongside fresh potatoes. Chips saw a 0.96% reduction to $6.61 per pound, frozen potatoes dipped 4.8% to $2.20 per pound, and dehydrated potatoes fell 0.5% to $5.15 per pound. In contrast, refrigerated potatoes and deli-prepared sides saw price rises of 1.5% and 1.9% respectively, accounting for 7.2% and 0.62% of volume sales (fresh weight equivalent).
Source: Potato Grower
