An Economic Study of the U.S. Potato Industry

Excerpt from report summary: During the past half century changes in the potato industry have been truly kaleidoscopic. The industry has been characterized by sharply declining per capita consumption, rapidly increasing specialization and concentration of production, greatly improved breeding and cultural methods, and significant changes in utilization and marketing practices. These and other forces have operated to bring about a big increase in productivity. Between 1920-24 and 1960-61, yield per acre almost tripled, while acreage declined almost 60 percent. During the same period, total production increased less than a fourth, from 223 million to 274 million cwt