Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
common fingerling variety, the Russian Banana,
has low to medium sugar content and is suited to
halving and then pan frying or roasting (USPB,
2011a).
Common fingerling varieties are: Russian
Banana, French, Rose Finn Apple, and Purple
Peruvian (WSU, 2012).
Common petite varieties are: smaller sizes
of most potato varieties, Dutch Babies, and Ro-
sara/Klondike Rose.
3.9 Trends in Potato Consumption
and Marketing
Trends shaping the international and US domes-
tic marketplace have been evident throughout this
chapter. The most prominent trends include: the
significant growth in Chinese production and
consumption; worldwide growth in the con-
sumption of processed potato products (primarily
fry products); and the increasing use of potatoes
as a staple and cash crop in developing coun-
tries. In this section, some of the more nuanced
trends are shared, as well as projections for future
market developments.
Demand for fry products has grown at a
slower pace in the EU and the USA, while the
greatest growth has been in the emerging popu-
lation centers of the Middle East, South Amer-
ica, and East Asia including China (USDA-FAS,
2013). The tripling of US fry exports (tonnes)
between 1990 and 2010, and the doubling of
European (EU-4) exports in the last 10 years,
both signify growth in world demand for frozen
potatoes (USDA-FAS, 2011).
Population growth and growth in demand
for potatoes is expected to be greater in Asia,
Latin America, Africa, and India than in the po-
tato production centers of North America and
Europe (FAO, 2008b). To accommodate growth
in demand for potatoes and potato products, the
export market is likely to becoming increasingly
important to the USA, Canada, and select EU
countries.
In developed countries, potato yields are ris-
ing more rapidly than demand for potatoes and
potato products (Huffaker, 2005; World Bank,
2008). This presents production challenges in
areas of high productivity such as the USA and
Canada, and may create the need to find alterna-
tive domestic and/or international markets for
surplus production.
In response to increasing pressure to use
water, fuel, and fertilizer efficiently, potato breed-
ers will be tasked with developing and improving
drought hardy and possibly GM potato varieties
(Huffaker, 2005). In developing countries in
Purples and blues
These colorful potatoes are an eye-catching add-
ition to the dinner table, and come in a range of
hues of blue, purple, and even red. The skin and
the flesh of these varieties tend to be highly pig-
mented and contain relatively high levels of
antioxidants. Category members tend to be small
to medium size and may range in shape from
round to oblong, and even fingerling size.
Cooked texture depends on the variety. Most
varieties can be prepared using all the typical
cooking methods, but to maintain the vibrancy
of the deeply hued purple and blues, microwave
cooking is recommended (USPB, 2011a).
Common purple and blue varieties are: Pur-
ple Majesty, Purple Peruvian, All Blue, Mountain
Rose, Adirondack Blue, Congo Blue, and True
Blue (WSU, 2012; USDA-NASS, 2013).
Petites and others
The category of “Petites” refers to smaller ver-
sions of full-sized potatoes. The unifying charac-
teristic is the C-size class distinction, which is no
larger than 3.8 cm in diameter, roughly marble
or pearl-sized. Category members range signifi-
cantly in terms of starch and sugar content, flavor,
color, and texture. Attractive medleys of yellow,
red, and purple or blue flesh are increasingly
available in US grocery stores (USPB, 2011a).
Similar to fingerlings, the small size of pe-
tites discourages peeling or significant chopping.
Therefore, cooking and preparation time are re-
duced and the resulting product is similar to lar-
ger versions of the variety, but frequently has a
more concentrated flavor. Some potato varieties,
such as the Dutch Baby or Rosara/Klondike
Rose, have been cultivated to be smaller in size
and nearly all production will grade out at a size C
or creamer size (USPB, 2011a).
 
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