During the July-September 2023 quarter, U.S. retail potato sales increased by 9.5% over the same period the previous year. Dollar sales of potatoes increased across the board.

“Despite a slight decrease (-1.7%) in total volume sales, fresh volume sales remained stable compared to a year ago (-0.4%), led by increases in yellow (3.3%), red (2.8%) and fingerling potatoes (3.9%). Regional fresh volume growth was led by the Southeast (2.5%) and California (1.8%). Fresh price per kilo was USD2.57, up 6.3% from last year. Overall volume sales remain above pre-pandemic levels,” according to a recent Potatoes USA press release.

The potatoes that saw the most gains in dollar sales during the quarter were those that were canned (45.1%), frozen (31.8%), and instant (17.1%). Volume sales of canned potatoes (63.3%) and deli-prepared sides (3.1%) also climbed. Canned potatoes have seen a significant increase in both volume and dollar sales, but as a percentage of total sales, this category only accounts for 1%. The three categories with the biggest volume decreases were frozen (-5.6%), instant (-6.0%), and refrigerated (-7.2%) potatoes.

“For fresh potatoes, all pack sizes except those greater than 4.5 kg (-29.9%) increased significantly in dollar sales. The 4.5 kg. packs increased significantly in dollar sales (32.9%) but fell in volume (-2.9%). The largest dollar sales increase was in 2.3 kg. (31.5%) and 4.5 kg. (32.9%) bags. However, volume sales fell for all sizes larger than 3.6 kg. pounds. Volume sales increased for less-than-one-kilo (1.3%) and 2.3 kg (3.7%) packages,” the report concluded.