Familiar challenges for the US potato industry

Dogged determination. They would be the two words to sum up the recent US Potato Expo.

By Cedric Porter, editor World Potato Markets

The event in Dallas, Texas, was held against a backdrop of political uncertainty including tariffs, fractious international relationships and crackdowns on migrant labour. The Trump administration had given farmers near record support payments of US$40 billion last year, although that was not aimed at potato production.

The combined US and Canadian potato crop was a little smaller in 2025 than 2024 at 24.4 million tonnes, but there are still plentiful supplies of processing potatoes. There was concern about greater competition for frozen fry or chip trade, especially from China and India who have seen their shipments double and increase by a third respectively over the last year. This, and the and pushback against tariffs, is impacting demand for US product in the Asia Pacific region, while EU imports are declining as tariffs bite.

Most North American processing potatoes are sold on contract and there is expectation that both they and the potato area will decrease in 2026. The market for fresh potatoes is more liquid and spot prices have fallen below the cost of production. Although unwelcome, that has made potatoes for consumers more affordable. Data from United Potato Growers of America showed that potatoes are by far and away the most affordable vegetables in the US, with a dollar buying 1.1 kilograms of russet potatoes , 765 grammes of red potatoes, or 720 grammes of yellow potatoes. Green cabbage was the only vegetable to come anywhere near potatoes, with a dollar buying 730 grammes and only 90 grammes of mushrooms.

Fresh demand

Demand for fresh potatoes has increased, with Potatoes USA saying that 51% of US potato sales were in the retail sector and 49% in foodservice, which compares to 42% and 58% in 2019. Potatoes remain American’s favourite vegetable and consumers had a more positive view of their health benefits in 2025 than the year before. The US Health Department released new healthy eating guidelines during the Expo and potatoes were firmly in the healthy vegetable category. However, fries (chips) and chips (crisps) may still come under ultra processed food legislation, especially as vegetable oil is used in their manufacture, which is out of favour with health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jnr.

At British Potato in November a GB Potatoes debate discussed the future of stalwart Maris Piper. A similar debate took place in Dallas over the future of Russet Burbank, a processing variety first selected in 1873 which still dominates the market. As in Harrogate, the expectation was that the variety would fade as newer more consumer focused and disease resistant ones emerge. Meanwhile, Potatoes USA proposed a more co-ordinated and consumer driven approach to variety development in the US to help develop the types of potatoes needed in the future and compete with European varieties.

Potato production around the world is dominated by the weather. Good American conditions in 2025, apart from drought in the east of Canada allowed good crop growth despite it being the fourth warmest year on record. There is concern that the 2026 crop could be impacted by a lack of snow in the key north-west region of the US which could impact on water for irrigation and the transition to an El Nino weather pattern which increases temperatures.

To view seminars at the US Potato Summit, including one by Cedric Porter, click here.

More details of the US Potato Expo can be found here.