PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF FRESHLY HARVESTED AND STORED POTATOES (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Several major U.S. potato varieties grown in major potato growing areas were analyzed for dry matter, total ash, protein and crude fiber. The compositional ranges for these compounds were relatively small. No differences in the proximate composition which could be attributed to variety or location of growth were established. Prolonged storage resulted in a slight increase in protein, but had no effect on dry matter, total ash and crude fiber contents. The overall mean values obtained in this study were in very good agreement with those reported in USDA Handbook No. 8.