North America

North American potato production is concentrated in two countries - the United States and Canada, which rank fifth and 13th, respectively, in the potato producing world (their closest regional rival, Bermuda, produced 1 100 tonnes in 2007). Since 1990, both countries have achieved notable increases in yields, which now average around 40 tonnes in the USA. Both are also major exporters of frozen potato products.

1. United States of America

potato
Production, 2007
Harvested area
456 000 ha
Quantity
17 653 920 t
Yield
38.7 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
298 213 000
Food consumption
16 399 000 t
Consumption/capita
54.385 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

Although the potato was grown in South America for millennia, the first potato patch in North America was only planted in 1719, in New Hampshire (the first french fries were served at the White House during the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson some 80 years later).

In 2007, the USA harvested 17.6 million tonnes of potatoes - down from almost 20 million the previous year, but enough to make it the world's fifth biggest producer. US potatoes are grown in nearly every state, although about half of the crop comes from Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Colorado, Oregon, Maine, Minnesota, California and Michigan.

Only about one third of US potatoes is consumed fresh. Around 60 percent of annual output is processed into frozen products (such as frozen fries and wedges), crisps, dehydrated potato and starch, while 6 percent is re-used as seed potato. Each American eats more than 54 kg of potatoes every year - boiled, baked, roasted, fried, scalloped, creamed, stuffed, and even raw.

2. Canada

potato, pomme de terre, patate
Production, 2007
Harvested area
158 927 ha
Quantity
4 970 938 t
Yield
31.2 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
32 268 000
Food consumption
2 755 000 t
Consumption/capita
85.045 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

Potatoes were first grown by settlers in New Brunswick, on Canada's Atlantic coast, as early as the mid-1600s. Today, Canada ranks as the world's 13th largest potato grower, with 2007 output of almost five million tonnes. The potato accounts for one third of all vegetable farm cash receipts, making it Canada's most important horticultural crop.

Since the early 1990s, Canadian potato production has expanded to meet international demand for frozen potato products. In 2004, almost two million tonnes of raw potatoes - or 37 percent of the total harvest - were needed to meet export demand. Most exports are in the form of frozen french fries, destined mainly for US markets.

Despite the potato's popularity, however, annual consumption in Canada declined from 89 kg per person in 1994 to around 85 kg a decade later.

Sources: United States Potato Board; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada