Potato Retail Market Sees Slight Increase in the U.S.
Potato sales in retail outlets throughout the United States were up April through June, according to the fourth-quarter 2018-19 fiscal year report Potatoes USA cited by Capital Press.
Both dollar and volume sales were up for total potatoes sold in retailers compared to the same quarter last year. Additionally, dollar sales increased by 2.6% and volume sales increased by 2.7%. During the quarter, the average price of potatoes is said to have dropped by -0.1%.
Five out of the seven categories of potatoes increased in both dollar and volume sales. Only two categories showed a decline in volume sales. Canned potatoes dropped with -1.2% and deli-prepared sides with -5.2%. The largest volume sales increase across all of the potato categories was refrigerated potatoes, which climbed with 9.4%. Frozen potatoes also increased volume sales by a hefty 6.1%.
According to the data, fresh potato sales, 55.2% of the market, rebounded in the fourth quarter. Russet potato sales increased 1.5% in volume and 1% in value with a -0.5% decline in price per pound. Yellow white and medley potatoes continued the largest volume increase for the fresh category up by 6.9%, 15.5%, and 24.5% respectively. Red potatoes witnessed the largest decline in volume sales falling by -7.5%.
All pack sizes increased in both volume and dollar sales except for 10-pound bags and bulk potatoes. Ten-pound bags of potatoes fell in dollar sales by -2.3% and volume sales by -2.7%. Ten-pound bags account for 19.4% of all volume sales of fresh potatoes, second to 5-pound bags which account for 44.7% of volume sales. Bulk increased in dollar sales by 0.03% but fell in volume sales by -2.0%.