If you were to hold up a Russet potato in your hand and ask 10 people at random to identify the variety, how would they respond? Most would probably say it is an Idaho potato. That’s because most people often associate Russets with Idaho potatoes. It’s a common assumption.
It’s also not uncommon to hear a person refer to an Idaho Russet as a baking potato even though this variety is well suited for mashing and other uses. Idaho Russet potatoes are also most popular for making French fries.
It’s true, potatoes are a huge important part of the produce category. They deliver maximum sales volume to the overall profit dollar mix for produce. If promoted and merchandised very aggressively, potatoes can put produce budgets over the top. But the key word is “aggressive.” A small conservative display will move very little product.
The new crop of Idaho Russet potatoes is excellent. The quality is outstanding with a good clean appearance. The volume is good on all sizes, and the markets are favorable for ad promotions…