U.S. Potato Exports Set Another Record

The United States Potato Board has announced that U.S. Frozen potato product exports surpassed the $1 billion mark for the first time in history.

USPB International Marketing Vice President John Toaspern says

Toaspern: "We're very pleased to have exports of U.S. frozen potato products reach yet another record level -- both in volume and value -- this past marketing year. These exports were driven by a lot of factors. Obviously, demand around the world for frozen potato products continues to grow, but I think what it is really important is the ability of the U.S. processors and growers to take advantage of this increasing demand. The quality and value that the U.S. product provides to the restaurant and ultimately to the consumer create a situation where the U.S. is able to take advantage of this increasing demand."

Trying to wrap your mind around how many potatoes it takes to make it to $1 billion is difficult. So Tospern breaks it down another way.

Toespern: "So it was 34.7 million hundred weight of potatoes that were grown in the U.S. got exported as frozen fries."