ABSTRACT
Most potato growers derive cash income from the crop. The concepts of supply and demand are at the heart of price analysis. A supply curve indicates the quantities that would be offered for sale or supplied by producers at different price levels; a demand curve indicates the quantities that would be demanded by consumers at different prices. The demand for potatoes reflects biological needs, food habits, income levels, and prices. In many countries, marketing problems have accompanied rapid increases in potato production. Long-term trends in potato production and prices can be observed in many areas. Research on processing and construction of low-cost facilities during World War II set the stage for greatly expanded potato processing in the United States. The bibliographic notes at the end of their chapters also contain a useful selection of references on economic aspects of food consumption and nutrition, production systems, marketing, and price formation.
