Supermarkets always promote potatoes, and October was no exception.
Potatoes commanded 10% of supermarket ads for vegetables in mid-October, the exact same share of ads as one year ago, according to the USDA National Retail Report for fruits and vegetables.
National russet potato promotions tracked by the report on Oct. 18 included 10-pound bags, 20-pound bags, 5-pound bags, 8-pound bags and russet potatoes by the pound.
The Oct. 18 report said the most popular retail russet promotion in October was the 5-pound bag.
The report said 4,043 retailers in the U.S. had an average advertised price of $2.45 for the 5-pound bag on Oct. 18. At the same time a year ago, 3,314 retailers advertised the 5-pound bag of russets for an average price of $3.44.
In comparison, retail promotions of 10-pound bags numbered 574, with the number of promotions for 8-pound bags rated at 588. The number of retailers advertising russet potatoes by the pound numbered 3,000 stores on Oct. 18, up from 1,912 stores promoting potatoes by the pound a year ago.
Advertised price comparisons of russet potatoes on Oct. 18, compared with a year ago:
- The average advertised price for 10-pound bags of russet was $4.06, down from $4.79 a year ago.
- The average advertised price for 8-pound bags of russets was $4.03, down from $4.40 at the same time a year ago.
- The average per-pound advertised price for russet potatoes was 93 cents, 1 cent per pound higher than 92 cents per pound at the same time a year ago.
