The value of Idaho's 2011 potato crop set a record at $1.04 billion, according to a recent report by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The crop value was up $128 million from 2010, according to the Sept. 20 NASS report.

The average price received by growers in 2011 was $8.10 per cwt, tying a record set in the 2010 marketing year. Fresh prices, averaging $8.05 per cwt, were down from $9.55 for the 2010 marketing year, and the average price paid to processed growers, at $7.70 per cwt, was up from $7.

Idaho growers sold 120 million cwt of 2011 potatoes, including 33.7 million cwt for the fresh market, up 2 percent, and 75.6 million cwt for processing, up 21 percent.

Total production in the Pacific Northwest was 250 million cwt, about 64 percent of U.S. fall production.