Current UCUI
68/100
Moderate-High Uncertainty
+4 points from prior reading
Potato Market Intelligence
Potato Processing Grade Price Premium
The potato processing grade price premium measures the additional raw cost paid for attributes that improve plant performance. MassGain connects variety, solids, size, defects, storage, reliability, recovery, throughput, waste, and finished value so procurement can test whether a premium is economically justified.
Market Data
How to read this market
Potato processing-grade price-premium data measures the additional raw-potato price paid above a defined base grade or alternative supply for attributes that improve plant performance. The market object is the matched premium by variety, solids, size, shape, defects, storage condition, reliability, region, and delivery period.
Use the data to compare the added raw cost with expected finished recovery, throughput, utility use, waste, and product mix. Preserve the base grade and freight basis so a premium is not confused with a different market stage or logistics cost.
Data Module
Potato Processing Grade Price Premium
Market objectprocessing-quality price differential
Primary measurepremium versus matched base grade
Key dimensionsvariety, quality, region, delivery
Commercial usesourcing and contract benchmarking
Value driversrecovery, yield, throughput, waste
Compare withfinished-unit economics
Analysis
Why this matters
A processing premium is justified only when the higher-priced raw material creates enough operating or finished-product value. Higher solids or stronger recovery can make a premium lot cheaper per saleable unit than discounted potatoes.
Commercial interpretation should separate market-wide scarcity from plant-specific specification. A premium driven by one narrow tolerance should not automatically reset the value of all processing potatoes.
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 food processors benchmarking the potato processing grade price premium paid above a defined base or alternative grade. MassGain separates the premium associated with variety, solids, size, shape, maturity, defect tolerance, storage performance, contract reliability, and plant-specific recovery.
It connects supplier quotes and transactions with expected finished yield, line speed, oil or energy use, waste, downgrade risk, and product mix. Procurement can determine whether a premium is supported by lower conversion cost or stronger finished revenue, finance can translate it into cost per saleable unit, operations can validate performance by lot, and grower-relations teams can design clearer quality schedules.
The suite distinguishes broad market scarcity from premiums created by one plant's specification and preserves crop year, region, delivery timing, and freight basis. MassGain does not prescribe contract prices or replace plant trials. It provides a transparent benchmark that shows how much premium the market is paying, which physical attributes justify it, and when the higher raw price no longer creates economic value.
Use Case
A processor considers paying $22 per tonne more for high-solids contract potatoes. MassGain models raw usage, recovery, energy, and finished output. The lot saves $27 per finished tonne, supporting the premium, while a second supplier's similar premium is rejected because its recovery history is weaker.
FAQs
What is a processing-grade premium?
It is the additional price paid for potatoes expected to perform better in a defined process.
Which attributes can justify it?
Solids, size, shape, defects, storage condition, reliability, and expected recovery can justify it.
How does MassGain test the premium?
It compares additional raw cost with changes in yield, throughput, waste, utilities, and finished value.
Put this market intelligence to work
Get historical data, regional detail, benchmarks, alerts, exports, and API access tailored to your procurement
and market-analysis needs.
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.