Current UCUI
68/100
Moderate-High Uncertainty
+4 points from prior reading
Potato Market Intelligence
Potato Minimum Size Specification
A potato minimum size specification defines the lower tuber limit and allowed tolerance for a grade, package, or processing use. MassGain connects undersize incidence with crop size mix, peeling yield, fry length, handling, packout, alternate outlets, and replacement cost.
Market Data
How to read this market
Potato minimum-size specification data defines the lower tuber-size limit and allowed tolerance for a contract, grade, package, or processing use. The market object is the lot's undersize distribution by variety, region, crop period, measurement method, and end-use requirement.
Use the data to quantify qualified packout and to connect small-size incidence with peeling yield, fry length, portion consistency, handling, or retail presentation. Compare the threshold with regional crop size distribution, re-sorting cost, alternate outlets, and replacement supply.
Data Module
Potato Minimum Size Specification
Market objectlower size qualification limit
Primary measureundersize share and tolerance
Key dimensionsvariety, region, method, end use
Commercial usequalification and packout planning
Operational linksyield, handling, presentation
Compare withcrop size mix and alternate outlets
Analysis
Why this matters
A crop can be abundant in total tonnes while a strict minimum-size class is tight. The resulting premium is specification scarcity, not necessarily broad commodity inflation.
Commercial interpretation should test whether smaller potatoes actually impair the buyer's process or customer program. A controlled temporary tolerance can preserve supply when usable recovery remains acceptable.
Signal 01
Usable Crop Uncertainty Index
UCUI translates crop and market complexity into a simple uncertainty signal. Higher readings indicate greater uncertainty—not necessarily higher prices.
Understand uncertainty. Anticipate risk. Act earlier.
UCUI is designed to analyze potato-industry publications and data signals across regions, varieties, weather, disease, storage, supply, and demand.
WeatherHigh
DiseaseHigh
StorageMedium
SupplyMedium
Single-day snapshot based on a scan of 11,500+ web and social signals. Get historical and real-time data by clicking the button below.
The MassGain Daily
Today’s market analysis.
A daily editorial synthesis of physical potato data, crop signals, market reporting, and what participants should watch next.
September 16, 2026Latest MassGain publication
Potato market steady for now; Russia’s smaller crop is the salient risk
Spot prices are flat and USDA terminal reports read ‘market steady,’ but a renewed forecast for a smaller Russian harvest and recent regional harvest stress leave seasonal import timing and storage losses as the key uncertainty.
Signal 02
MassGain Potato Index
Independent physical-pricing intelligence and market-trend analysis for procurement, forecasting, contracting, and scenario planning.
Core Russet Carton Median
312.45 USD/MT
Latest qualifying physical-market observation
+4.75 (+1.55%)
Price discovery for the physical potato market
MPI is designed to track physical pricing data, price trends, deltas, and divergences across regions and potato types.
Series window45 days
Current public coverageCore russet cartons
Primary source basisQualifying USDA physical rows
UnitUSD per metric tonne
Single-day snapshot based on most recent 45 days worth of data. Limited to US Russets only. Get more complete, global data about all varieties by clicking the button below.
Signal 03
MassGain Spot Reference
An independent spot reference designed for price discovery, contract discussions, procurement comparisons, and risk modeling.
Russet Burbank — U.S. Midsize
305 USD/MT
Demonstration reference format
+1.6% WoW · Confidence: High
A trusted benchmark for pricing, contracts, and risk
MSR is intended to use real transactions and verifiable physical-market data to support negotiations, price checks, contracting, and risk models.
ProductRusset Burbank
SpecificationU.S. midsize, 40–70 count
Reference typePhysical spot benchmark
StatusIn development
Based on most recent 45 days worth of data. Limited to US Russets only. Get more complete, global data about all varities by clicking the button below. Full access also includes historical data -- including depreciated NYMEX/CBOE/EEX spot references -- projections, trends, and AI-driven insights.
The MassGain Product Ladder
From insight to intelligence to action
Four integrated products built for the physical potato market, delivered through public pages, reports, exports, dashboards, and API access.
1
Content
Original research, commentary, aggregated news, and market updates.
- What matters right now?
- What is happening out there?
2
UCUI™
Usable Crop Uncertainty Index: an AI-powered signal of crop risk and market uncertainty.
- Understand uncertainty
- Anticipate risk
- Act earlier
3
MPI™
MassGain Potato Index: independent physical-pricing intelligence and trend analysis.
- Price discovery
- Regional trends
- Procurement planning
4
MSR™
MassGain Spot Reference: an independent benchmark for price discovery and risk modeling.
- Contracts
- Negotiations
- Risk models
Content + UCUI + MPI + MSR + API access
Get historical series, regional detail, constituent data, exports, alerts, and direct data access.
Overview
Who is this for?
This page is for procurement and market-intelligence teams working with a potato minimum size specification. MassGain connects the lower size threshold with variety, grade, package, customer use, processing recovery, and the measurement method used at inspection.
It shows how much regional supply falls below the limit, how small-size incidence changes through the season, and what price or packout consequences follow from a tighter standard. Buyers can determine whether the minimum protects peeling yield, portion consistency, fry length, or retail presentation, or whether it unnecessarily excludes saleable stock. Suppliers can estimate re-sorting and downgrade exposure, and finance teams can quantify the cost of moving the threshold.
The suite preserves tolerance rules and avoids treating all small potatoes as equivalent, since shape, maturity, and intended use matter. MassGain does not certify grade or set customer specifications. It provides a transparent framework for balancing usable performance with market availability and cost.
Use Case
A wholesaler requires a 2.25-inch minimum for a foodservice program. MassGain shows a temporary increase in smaller new-crop potatoes but strong quality and adequate peeling yield. The buyer accepts a controlled tolerance for two weeks, protecting supply while avoiding a broad downgrade.
FAQs
What is a minimum size specification?
It defines the smallest potato accepted for a particular grade, package, customer, or process.
How can a tight minimum affect price?
It reduces qualified packout and can create a premium when the crop skews smaller.
How does MassGain support a tolerance decision?
It links size distribution with yield, customer requirements, available supply, and the cost of rejection or re-sorting.
Put this market intelligence to work
Get historical data, regional detail, benchmarks, alerts, exports, and API access tailored to your procurement
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Data and Methodology
Professional market-data standards
MassGain is building transparent public market infrastructure. Each live metric will identify its date, unit, coverage, methodology, and source basis.
Data provenance
MassGain uses public, licensed, contributed, and independently derived physical-market information. Source availability and publication schedules vary.
Timing and revisions
Figures may reflect the latest available observation rather than a same-day transaction. Source data and MassGain calculations may be corrected, restated, or revised.
Not transactional pricing
MassGain figures are informational reference values and do not constitute executable bids, offers, settlements, or guarantees that a transaction can occur at the displayed value.
No individualized advice
Content and data are provided for informational and analytical purposes and do not constitute financial, investment, legal, trading, or individualized procurement advice.
Independent publication
Certain observations may be derived from USDA reports. MassGain is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USDA.
Commercial use and licensing
Public display does not grant rights to reproduce, redistribute, republish, or incorporate MassGain indices or references into commercial products or contracts without authorization.