Americans love their Gallic fries . According toThe New York Times , Americans wipe out an norm of an average of 115.6 Pound of whitened potatoes annually , " of which two - thirds are in the variety of French tyke , potato chips and other frozen or processed potato products . "
If you ’re someone who annually devours the weight of a small child in Fry at McDonald ’s or elsewhere , you ’ll be distressed that Irish potato farmers are facing a shortage — one that could create a fry crisis . But these worry are likely overblown .
According toBloomberg , a cold-blooded ginger snap in October go to crop - menace frosts at Solanum tuberosum farm in Manitoba in Canada , as well as in North Dakota and Minnesota . In Manitoba , 12,000 acres go unharvested , the equivalent weight to what was leave behind in all of Canada last season . theater of operations in Idaho and Alberta , Canada , were also hit , but some crops were able-bodied to be save . Combined with increased demand in Canada for spuds , North America is search at a potential tuber deficit .
Why are fries facing shortage , but not mashed potatoes ? Fry vendors favour bighearted potatoes for slice , which incline to beharvestedlater in the year and were subject to earth freeze and other damage .
This all sounds like cause for home warning machine , but the Irish potato industry has take measures to keep the securities industry fed . Potato expert told Bloomberg that while white potato shipments will likely have to be rerouted from more fertile farm and into new distribution channels , the consumer may not notice any difference of opinion . A plea for noetic thought was echoed by Frank Muir , chair of Idaho Potato Commission . MuirtoldThe New York Timesthat while Idaho is down 1 billion spuds , the province still managed 13 billion . His message to consumer is “ Do n’t panic … you’re able to still go out and order them as you normally do . ”
harmonize to Muir , the major fast food chains — McDonald ’s , Wendy ’s , and Burger King , among others — have temperature - control storage for their white potato vine and probably have an inventorying to fall back on . Rationing wo n’t be involve — unless , of course , you ’re see your weightiness .
[ h / tBloomberg ]
