In comparison to the same period the previous year, the U.S. retail sales volume of potatoes climbed by 5.6% between January and March of 2024, while dollar sales increased by 4.4% to reach approximately USD4.6bn. Every potato category saw a rise in dollar sales as well as volume sales, showing robust overall growth.

All categories of potatoes increased in volume and dollar sales for the quarter. This includes – Fresh: Dollar sales increased 0.6%; volume sales increased 7.6%; Frozen: Dollar sales increased 10.5%; volume sales increased 3.3%; Chips: Dollar sales increased 3.3%; volume sales increased 1.7%.

“The most significant sales volume increases in January-March were for deli-prepared sides (7.8%) and fresh potatoes (7.6%),” according to a recent Potatoes USA release.

Dollar sales of fresh potatoes were nearly USD1.1bn, a 0.6% increase from the previous year. Fresh sales volume increased for all types except red (-3.3%) and white (-3.1%). Purple saw the highest sales volume increase (18.9%), followed by medley (11.5%), yellow (11.2%) and russet (10.8%). This is especially significant for russet and yellow potatoes, which make up 63% and 16% of fresh volume sales, respectively.

Dollar sales for fresh potatoes increased for purple (12.4%), medley (9%), yellow (8%), fingerling (3.4%), and petite (1.1%). Dollar sales decreased for red (-5.5%), white (-1.7%), and russet (-0.2%).

All pack sizes smaller than 10 pounds saw an increase in volume and dollar sales. The largest sales volume increase was for 8-pound bags (25.5%), followed by 10-pound bags (9.1%), 5-pound bags (8%), bags under 2 pounds (7.6%), and bags 2-4 pounds (4.2%). Bags greater than 10 pounds saw a decrease in volume sales (-25.8%). Bags weighing 10 pounds saw a 5.9% decrease in dollar sales, and those greater than 10 pounds saw a 36.8% decrease in dollar sales.