Economic Impacts of Increasing the Minimum Size for Idaho Fresh Potatoes

The Idaho Potato Commission funded a project to help answer the question: What would be the economic impact if the potato industry increased the minimum size for fresh potatoes? We estimate that increasing the minimum size from 4 to 5 ounces would divert about 5 million hundredweight (cwt) to dehydrators. Idaho fresh potato revenue would increase $73 million. Idaho dehydrated potato revenue would increase $18 million. The total impact would be increased revenue of $91 million. A sensitivity analysis showed that revenue increases are larger when more potatoes are diverted.