All potato varieties should be uniformly sized, fairly clean, firm, and smooth. Avoid potatoes with wrinkled skins, soft dark spots, cut surfaces, or green appearance.
Storing and Handling
Temperature/humidity recommendations for short-term
storage of seven days or less:
45-50 degrees F/7-10 degrees C
85-95% relative humidity
Copyright & Disclaimer
PMA Fresh Produce Manual
Variety/Type Descriptions
Russet – Most widely used variety. Oblong shape with netted brown skin and white flesh. Good choice for baking, roasting, mashing, and frying.
White – Oval shape with thin, light tan skin and firm, waxy texture. Good choice for boiling, salads, stews, soups, and roasting.
Round Red – Round shape with smooth, light red skin, creamy white flesh, and firm, waxy texture. Good choice for potato salads, roasting, boiling, and frying.
Common Packaging
100-lb. sacks
50-lb. cartons or sacks
5- and 10-lb. bags
Grades
U.S. Extra No. 1
U.S. No. 1
U.S. Commercial
U.S. No. 2
NOTE: Not all potatoes are graded. Ungraded potatoes are called “unclassified.” Differences between grades are based primarily on external appearance.
Storing Tips
Store potatoes in a dark, well-ventilated area. Keep away from ethylene producing fruits and ripening rooms.
Sizes
A – 17/8 inch and larger (40% of size A potatoes are over 2_ inches or 6 ounces)
B – 1_ – 2_ inches (may be called new potatoes)
Baby – 1_ inch and smaller (usually packed in pint baskets or tubs)
Consumer Packs – 17/8 inches or 4-ounce minimum (packed in bags)
Carton Counts (based on 50-pound carton): Count # of potatoes Average weight
Size in carton of potato
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.
Shippers
LAMAR FARMS, INC.
3900 N. 10th Street, Suite 1050, McAllen, TX 78502
PHONE # - 956-631-5423
FAX # - 956-631-1349
CONTACT - Chris Burns, Mgr.
RICHARD BARRETT PRODUCE CO., INC.
P. O. Box 525, Muleshoe, TX 79347
East Highway 84, Muleshoe, TX 79347
PHONE # - 806-272-4546, 806-272-3326
FAX # - 806-272-5353
CONTACT - Richard Barrett, President
E-MAIL - barrettp@fivearea.com
WETEGROVE CO., INC.
P.O. Box 1418, Uvalde, TX 78802
PHONE # - 956-689-3773
FAX # - 956-689-3017
CONTACT - Charles Wetegrove, Vice President
