Potato and other vegetable prices in the U.S. are up sharply over last year according to a new government report.

Potatoes averaged $9.95 per cwt. in March, $2.53 more than in March 2010, and the non-potato vegetable price index rose 34 per cent from the year before, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service's March 30 Agricultural Prices report.

Potato and non-vegetable prices in March also were up from February - potatoes by 7 per cent and non-potato vegetables by 3.3 per cent.