Potatoes
The world's leading root crop: bulky, perishable and mostly eaten near where it grows, yet once the star of New York futures.
Fruit, roots & pulses · No. 115
- Not on a critical list
- HHI 940 · unconcentrated
This humble, mostly-water tuber was once the mainstay of New York's futures exchange, and in 1976 caused a record default.
Chart: Illustration: Potatoes
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Potatoes grow from certified seed tubers in cool, loose soils, yielding more food per hectare than most cereals; the world grew about 390 million tonnes in 2024.
Three things to know
- World potato output climbed from 267 million tonnes in 1990 to about 390 million in 2024, with China and India growing nearly two-fifths.
- Potatoes are 78-80% water, so they are costly to ship; only about $6.2 billion of fresh potatoes crossed borders in 2023.
- For fries and crisps, high dry matter and low sugars matter most, giving crisp, light-coloured products and less acrylamide.
The journey
- 1 Seed tubersCertified tubers planted, not true seed
- 2 Cool fieldsLoose fertile soil, high yields per hectare
- 3 Harvest and curingTubers lifted and skins toughened
- 4 StorageVentilated or chilled stores for months
- 5 End useTable, fries, crisps or starch