US: Retail Demand for Potatoes Up 41% Since Last Year

Recently published figures by Potatoes USA show a massive spike in retail demand for potatoes, which represent the largest sales increase of all vegetables sold in March. Retail purchases of all potato products were 41% higher in March 2020 compared to the same time frame last year.

"Consumers give potatoes high marks for being a satisfying food that everyone enjoys and for being a great value," said Blair Richardson, CEO, Potatoes USA. "The surprising news for most people is that potatoes are a nutrient-dense vegetable."

Fresh potatoes have also experienced a 42% volume increase since the beginning of March and a 67% year-over-year dollar sales increase as of the end of the first week of April. Before stay-at-home restrictions were enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 73% of consumers across the USA reported eating potatoes at least once a month.

"Fresh potatoes are good for you and good for your wallet and have a more favorable overall nutrient-to-price ratio than many vegetables," said Richardson.