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VarietiesUpdated May 2026

What are US No. 1 potatoes?

US No. 1 potatoes are premium-grade fresh market potatoes that meet strict USDA quality standards for size, appearance, and internal quality.

According to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service regulations (7 CFR 51.1540-1566), US No. 1 potatoes must have a minimum diameter of 1-7/8 inches (47.6 mm) unless otherwise specified. They must be clean, fairly well-shaped, and firm, while being completely free from freezing injury, blackheart, and soft rot.

The quality tolerances are stringent: maximum 2% serious damage and maximum 5% total defects by weight. For external appearance, only minor superficial scab, minor shape irregularity, and slight skinning are permitted. Internal quality standards are even stricter — no hollow heart or internal discoloration is allowed.

US No. 1 represents a higher grade than US No. 2 potatoes, which have more relaxed standards including a smaller minimum diameter of 1-1/2 inches (38.1 mm) and higher defect tolerances of up to 5% serious damage and 10% total defects. These USDA grades are used in wholesale transactions, retail specifications, and export documentation throughout the US potato industry.

Based on data from 20142025

medium confidence
📚5 sources (2024–2025)
Usa Potato Industry Context

0 cwt/acre (~51 tonnes per hectare) — the highest commercial yield among major producing nations, driven by intensive Pacific Northwest irrigated...

Usa Potato Profile2024

Potato Profile: United States of America Production Overview (2024, UNFAOSTAT): The USA produced 19.99 million tonnes in 2024 on 374,500 hectares.

Potato Quality Standards Regulations

1 (USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, 7 CFR 51.1540-1566): - Minimum diameter: 1-7/8 inches (47.6 mm) unless otherwise specified - Clean, fairly...

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ined by the USDA AMS Specialty Crops Inspection Division, define the quality grades (US Extra No.

Npc 2025 Yearbook Usa2025

of Commerce Foreign Trade Division] ============================================================ Breakdown of US potato exports by product: - Frozen...

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