Retailers
Storage Tips
Store in a cool, dark, and well ventilated area.
- Ventilation – Store on a pallet to enhance ventilation. This limits spoilage by allowing potatoes to breathe oxygen and give off carbon dioxide.
- Temperature – Between 45˚ and 50˚ is ideal. 50˚ or higher will result in sprouting, increased flabbiness, and faster decay. Potatoes stored below 40˚ will convert starches to sugar. This will cause potatoes to turn dark when fried.
- Light – Too much light causes potatoes to turn green and also causes a bitter taste. It is recommended that the potato section be covered during off hours.
Merchandising Tips
- Rotate stock daily. Clean out the bin thoroughly, place new stock at the bottom or back of bin, and refill your most recent unsold stock on the top or in the front of the bin.
- Make displays more powerful. “Spillovers,” waterfalls, and large compelling displays really move the spuds. Try a second big display in the front of the section during major promotions.
- Sell a wide variety. Provide a supply of bulk reds, whites, and russets, plus an assortment of 3-, 5-, 10-, and 20-lb. bags. Use color breaks to separate the natural and varied hues of potatoes.
- Use signage. Recipes, price cards, nutritional information, and serving information all increases sales. Sales really skyrocket when signage is used in conjunction with ads.
- Advertise. Potato features create traffic for your department and the entire store.
Classifications
| Sizes |
| Size A: 1-7/8 inch and larger, 40% over 2-1/2 inches or 6 oz. |
| Size B: 1-1/2 inch - 2-1/14 inches, sometimes called new potatoes |
| Baby: 1-1/2 inch and smaller, usually packed in pint baskets or tubs |
| Consumer Packs: 1-7/8 inch or 4 oz. minimum, packed in bags |
| Carton Counts - 50 lb. Carton | ||
| Count Size | # of Spuds / Carton | Avg. Weight Each |
| 50 | 49 - 52 | 16.0 oz. |
| 60 | 58 - 60 | 13.0 oz. |
| 70 | 66 - 72 | 11.5 oz. |
| 80 | 78 - 82 | 10.0 oz. |
| 90 | 90 - 95 | 9.0 oz. |
| 100 | 100 - 105 | 8.0 oz. |
| 110 | 108 - 115 | 7.3 oz. |
| 120 | 118 - 130 | 6.5 oz. |
