Potato Renaissance: A Variety for Every Need

When it comes to potatoes and health, it's all about perception and reality. The reality is that they fit easily into current dietary guidelines for healthy eating. And the U.S. Potato Board is working overtime to make sure your customers get that message.

Our "spokes-spud," Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD^TM, has given millions of Americans the skinny on potatoes and nutrition—through everything from school programs to national media tours with cooking and diet experts, retail displays, consumer recipe brochures, and much more.

And on the foodservice side, we offer recipes, promotion partnership opportunities and high-impact point-of-sale materials to help you promote healthy potato menu options.

America's potato growers are constantly working to bring new specialty potato varieties to market. And that's good news for you and your menu. From brown and gold to red, white and blue, today's potatoes come in more colors, shapes, sizes and flavor profiles than ever. Easy to store and handle, they're one of the most versatile, popular, and high-margin staples you can menu.

Russets

This is the most widely used potato variety in the United States. A large majority are grown in the Northwest. They are available year-round. These potatoes are high in starch and are characterized by netted brown skin and white flesh. Russets are light and fluffy when cooked, making them ideal for baking and mashing. They are also wonderful for frying and roasting.

Yellow

These potatoes are increasingly popular in the United States and are now available for most of the year. These potatoes have a dense, creamy texture. With their golden color, you can be fooled into thinking that they are buttered. They are great for roasting, baking, boiling and steaming.

Red

These potatoes have become more widely available and can now be found almost all year round. They are characterized by their rosy red skin, but can have white, yellow or even red flesh. Red potatoes have a firm, smooth and moist texture, making them well suited for salads, roasting, boiling and steaming. Round reds are often referred to as "new potatoes"; however, technically, "new" refers to any variety of potatoes that is harvested before reaching maturity.

Blue and Purple

These potatoes originated in South America and have begun to gain popularity in the United States. Blue and purple potatoes are most available in the fall. These relatively uncommon tubers have a subtle nutty flavor and flesh that ranges in hue from dark blue or lavender to white. Microwaving preserves the color the best, but steaming and baking are also favorable methods of preparation.