Idaho potato farmers planted 300,000 acres in 2026, down 5% from 315,000 acres in 2025, according to a USDA acreage report dated June 30. The reduction reflects grower responses to open market prices that have been running below production costs.
Idaho is the single largest potato-producing state in the U.S., and a 5% decline in planted acres there is a meaningful supply signal for the fresh and processing markets alike. Combined with the broader U.S. potato planting decline reported earlier, the trend points toward a tighter supply environment heading into the fall and winter fresh potato season.
Fresh-market potato buyers and category managers should watch how this acreage reduction translates into harvest volumes and pricing as the Idaho season approaches. Stored inventory levels from earlier in the year will also shape how tight the market gets.