Where Have All the Yukon Golds Gone?

As you've been perusing your favorite grocery store or farmer's market — or, let's be real, Instacart or DoorDash — you may have noticed a favorite form of produce becoming less and less available.

I'm talking about the iconic Yukon Gold potato.

A true culinary workhorse — and usually all year round, at that, not only on Thanksgiving — the Yukon Gold is a gold standard, a reliable ingredient that's ubiquitous throughout home kitchens. While the breadth of potatoes is varied and incredible, Yukons have taken on a favorite status, becoming the preferred type for many, many dishes: mashed, roasted, you name it.

But while a russet, sweet or Red Bliss is seemingly always available, and a fingerling is usually right next door, what if I told you that those “Yukon Golds” you've been purchasing lately... may not actually be Yukon Golds, after all?

What are Yukon Gold potatoes?

Originally, Yukon Golds hailed from Canada and were once the only yellow potato on supermarket shelves, in contrast with a standard baking potato. But in recent years, there have been some knockoffs, if you will. A shopper might pick up a sack of small, yellow, rounded potatoes assuming they're Yukon Golds — but they're, in fact, technically not.

Are Yukon Golds really in short supply?

The general understanding seems to be that Yukon Golds — which are more susceptible to disease, low yields and spoilage than other potato varieties — are being prioritized less and less in favor of other yellow potatoes that are simpler (read: cheaper) to grow and sell, both for farmers and for the grocery industry at large.

In order to get to the bottom of this, I spoke with Ross Johnson, the Vice President of Retail and International at the Idaho Potato Commission.

“One helpful piece of context is that Yukon Gold is technically a specific potato variety, but the name became so familiar that consumers often use it almost like a brand name for yellow potatoes,” he tells me.

And while actual, official, legitimate Yukon Golds may have declined in availability, similar potatoes are typically widely available. And for many shoppers, the difference is nil. As Johnson puts it, don't fret about the specificity.

“Difficulty finding a bag specifically labeled ‘Yukon Gold’ doesn’t necessarily mean yellow potatoes are in short supply,” he says. “Here in Idaho, growers are responding to their popularity by growing more.”

And, he says, growers are working to improve potato quality to avoid supply and spoilage issues.

“The Idaho Potato Commission invests approximately $1 million annually, in research, to help growers improve production and storage practices, so customers can count on consistent quality throughout the year,” Johnson adds.

What can you substitute for Yukon Golds?

Of course, another important point here is that the particular dish you're making is important to consider when buying potatoes.

“Yellow potatoes work well for creamy mashed potatoes and roasting, russets are excellent for fluffy mashed potatoes and baking, and red potatoes hold their shape well in salads and soups,” Johnson says.

So, keep in mind that a bag “labeled ‘yellow’ or ‘gold’ potatoes is generally a good substitute when a recipe calls for Yukon Gold,” according to Johnson.

There might be some dissatisfaction with this takeaway — the potato you thought you were eating all these years is not actually what you had in mind, and that may not change due to difficulty in growing. However, as Johnson says, you “don’t need to get caught up in the variety on the bag to make a great potato dish.”

So, while actual Yukon Golds may now be few and far between, there are lots of good alternatives to ensure that you're still able to make your favorite tater-forward dishes. While you might know the potatoes aren't actually Yukon Golds ... nobody else has to!

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