According to United Potato Growers of America CEO Mark Klompien, the fresh yellow potato sector is experiencing a growth trend unlike any other. Fresh yellow potato shipments for the 2021-22 season are close to 10.8 million hundredweight, a 3.5 percent increase from the previous shipping season. The Red River Valley is increasing fresh yellow potato production at the expense of fresh red potato acres, but the region is still the largest producer of fresh red potatoes. U.S. fresh red shipments are showing a decline from the previous few years. “That’s driven by the cannibalization of red acreage into yellow acreage and the significant drought conditions.” Looking ahead to the 2022 growing season, Klompien says potato acreage will be based on a few things including strong alternative crop prices, cost of production increases and other external factors. Hear the story.