Fresh potatoes remain a staple in the kitchens of U.S. consumers with 85.2 percent of households purchasing the versatile vegetable at nearly 11 times per year. Recent sales data shows that potatoes are a top performer in the produce section, boasting the highest household penetration of any vegetable.
Potatoes account for 9.7 percent of total produce pounds and 21.1 percent of all vegetable pounds, making them the top seller in fresh vegetables by volume.
"Potato dollar sales remain strong, generating $4.4 billion over the past year," said Nick Bartelme, global marketing manager of retail for Potatoes USA. "Their consistent ranking in the top five fresh produce categories, among 130 categories, for dollar sales demonstrates remarkable resilience in the face of challenging market conditions."
Potatoes account for 9.7 percent of total produce pounds and 21.1 percent of all vegetable pounds, making them the top seller in fresh vegetables by volume.
From June 2023 through July 2024, potato sales contributed an additional $1.3 billion in sales when compared to sales in June 2018-2019 before the pandemic. In addition, those same 12 months represent the second-highest potato volume sales in six years with an additional 322 million pounds moved compared to pre-pandemic (2019).
"As we've shared with retailers before, one of the most promising insights from this year's study is the potential for further growth," said Bartelme. "If just half of the households that currently purchase potatoes were to make one additional purchase per year, it could drive a potential $218M in sales and 231M extra pounds, significantly impacting the market. Retailers could see major gains from this simple shift in consumer behavior."
With 85 percent of households already buying potatoes, this increase in purchasing frequency could yield growth for both growers and retailers.
"Potatoes continue to be a reliable, year-round sales powerhouse for produce departments, contributing significantly to retail success," said Bartelme.
For more information:
Potatoes USA
Tel: +1 (303) 369-7783
[email protected]
https://potatoesusa.com/