Pennsylvania Ag Connection - Potatoes: Secret Superstar of Pennsylvania Economy

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Potatoes: Secret Superstar of Pennsylvania Economy
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 01/16/2018

Pennsylvania snack foods generate several billion dollars of revenue each year with the potato living at the center of that industry. Pennsylvania grows more chipping potatoes than any other state in the United States.

Potatoes are sorted by USDA grade standards, with grade one being the highest and grade two being the lowest. Grade one standards for potatoes include being firm, fairly clean, fairly well shaped, free from freezing, late blight, blackheart, and soft rot, free of damage from any other source, and they must be not less than 1 and 7-8th inches in diameter. Potatoes fall to the U.S. Commercial standard when they meet all aspects of the grade one requirements except they have some damage from dirt or other foreign matter. Grade two standards for potatoes include being not seriously misshapen, free from freezing, late blight, blackheart, and soft rot, free of damage from any other source, and they must be not less than 1.5 inches in diameter.

While most grade two standard potatoes get thrown to the wayside, Dieffenbach's Potato Chips has found a way to make use of them in their "It's Good to be Ugly" campaign. Dieffenbach's introduced its newest brand, Uglies, during last year's Pennsylvania Farm Show. The Uglies brand uses potatoes with slight imperfections to make kettle cooked potato chips and lessen food waste. In the past year, Dieffenbach's has been able to save more than 350,000 pounds of potatoes from being wasted. Nevin Dieffenbach, owner and CEO of Dieffenbach's Potato Chips Inc, says, "Snacking should be enjoyable, and we're proud that with Uglies, it has an even greater impact."

Nineteen classes of potatoes were judged during the 102nd Pennsylvania Farm Show including both open, junior, and oversized divisions. Additional contests included the Mr. Spuds contest, and special premiums were sponsored by the Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers Inc.

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