Russet shipments rise as red and yellow potato volumes fall

US Russet potato shipments increased by 11% between May and mid-July 2026, while yellow and round red volumes each fell by 18%, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.

The increase in Russets pushed total domestic fresh potato shipments 4% above the same period last year. Overall volumes were still 1% below the level recorded in 2024.

Russet shipments reached 1.45 billion pounds during the period. Idaho supplied 747 million pounds, or 52% of the total.

Most Russets moving through the market were from the previous harvest. Around 98% of shipments came from potatoes held in storage.

The situation was different for yellow potatoes. About 65% of yellow shipments were harvested in 2026, mainly in Florida and California.

Lower volumes of yellow, red and other speciality potatoes suggest that winter and spring acreage was reduced this year. These crops represent a smaller part of total US potato area but are important sources of new-season supply during the summer.

The stronger Russet movement was large enough to offset the double-digit declines in the smaller categories.

source: ers.usda.gov

photo: wikipedia.org