The total economic contribution of the U.S. potato value chain in 2021 was predicted to be USD100.9bn, sustaining over 714,000 domestic employment across the country.

Roughly 20% of all potatoes farmed in the U.S. are exported, whether fresh or processed, making commerce an important component of the U.S. potato sector.

The U.S. exported USD2.2bn worth of potatoes and potato products between July 2022 and June 2023. An estimated USD4.78bn is the overall economic contribution from potato and potato product exports, with an estimated 33,846 jobs affected by these exports.

“Based upon a conservative and achievable expansion in foreign market access and maturity (a 10% increase in exports to Canada, Japan, and South Korea; a 25% increase in exports to other East Asia markets, Mexico, and selected countries in the Middle East, and an additional USD100m in fresh exports to Mexico and Japan) it is estimated that total U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would increase by USD1.024bn and create an additional 5,600 domestic jobs. This expansion represents an increase of about 21% compared to the current impact of potato exports annually,” according to “The Current & Potential Impact of Expanded Potato Export” report from the National Potato Council.

The U.S. potato supply entails a wide spectrum of activity, from agricultural production, through wholesaling, processing, and distribution, and ending with consumer purchases of final products through retail channels or food service providers.