U.S. Potato Consumption Fast Food Growth Boosts Frozen Potato Consumption Biing-Hwan Lin Gary Lucier Jane Allshouse Linda Scott Kantor (202) 694-5458 (202) 694-5253
[email protected] [email protected] otatoes are the most impor consumption of frozen potato prod capita basis, than other Americans. P tant vegetable crop in the ucts rose steadily to 63 pounds in Seniors favor consumption of fresh United States. The crop's 1999 1999 (fig. 1). Dehydrated potatoes and canned potatoes, while teen farm receipts totaled $2.7 billion, or (14 pounds), potato chips (16 agers consume more chips and 18 percent of all vegetable and pounds), and canned potatoes (2 french fries than other age groups. melon farm cash receipts. Potatoes, pounds) represented smaller seg These findings are taken from an rich in vitamin C, potassium, and ments of the market. analysis of the 1994-96 CSFII, other vital nutrients, are a staple The growth of the fast food indus USDA's most recent food consump food in the United States. The 1999 try spurred the shift toward frozen tion survey. Each year of the CSFII' s per capita consumption of vegeta potato products. USDA's 1994-96 3-year data set comprises a nation bles was 454 pounds, fresh-weight Continuing Survey of Food Intakes ally representative sample of nonin equivalent, of which 142 pounds, or by Individuals (CSFII) shows that stitutionalized persons residing in 31 percent, were potatoes. Pound for most U.S. fresh potato consump 50 States and Washington, DC. Sur pound among U.S.