Washington is the state that ranks second in the United States for potato production, with a total yield of around 100 million cwt (5.2 million metric tonnes).
According to an economic analysis (accesses or downloads pdf) prepared in 2016 based on data of the year 2015 by researchers of the Washington State University, the potato industry in Washington State generated approximately $3.07 billion in direct economic output from the five sectors in the industry – potato farming, frozen potato processing, fresh packed potatoes, dehydrated potato products, and potato chip manufacturing.
Indirect and induced effects of this economic output generated a further $4.35 billion in economic activity in the State.
Direct employment in the potato industry sectors noted above was approximately 5,846; this direct employment lead to the creation of a further 30,014 jobs in Washington State. Alternatively, every job in the potato industry supported a further 5.1 jobs in the economy in sectors such as support services for agriculture, transportation, wholesale trade, real estate, and food and beverage retail stores.
Washington Potato Growing areas
(Click to enlarge) 
US Fall Potato Production: Top Ten States. Source: USDA-NASS: Potato Stocks (December 2014)
The top potato varieties grown in Washington (fall harvest 2016, by acreage) are:
- Russet Burbank (31.1%)
- Ranger Russet (14.4%)
- Russet Norkotah (13.3%)
- Umatilla Russet (12.9)
- Alturas (5.9%)
- Frito-Lay varieties (4.2%)
- Chieftain (3.4%)
- Clearwater (3.0%)
All other varieties count for less than 3% of the Washington Fall potato acreage.
