Potato Power Across the States!
Did you know that potatoes are grown in nearly every U. S. state? While Colorado is one of the top producers, it’ s not alone when it comes to growing this popular vegetable. From coast to coast, farmers work hard to grow spuds that end up as mashed potatoes, French fries, chips, and more! Many of the top potato-growing states- like Colorado, Idaho, and Washington- have something in common: rich soil, cool nights, sunny days, and access to plenty of water for irrigation. In this activity, you’ ll explore where most potatoes are grown, compare how much each state produces, and discover how Colorado stacks up against the rest of the country.
Instructions: Use the potato production chart to color in the top 10 potato-producing states on the U. S. map. Create a color shade key based on ranks( 1 = darkest, 10 = lightest). Then label each state with its name and rank.
Top 10 Potato-Producing States
Rank State
Potatoes Produced( million cwt)
1st Idaho 145.0 2nd Washington 99.7 3rd Wisconsin 29.4 4th Oregon 25.2 5th North Dakota 24.4 6th Colorado 21.2 7th Minnesota 18.4 8th Michigan 18.3 9th California 17.0 10th Maine 15.2
4- COLORADO AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM