This paper examines trends and prospects for potatoes in developed and developing countries with an eye to incorporating a policy, historical, and quantitative perspective into that analysis. The available evidence indicates production surged ahead in many developing countries since 1960, while it stagnated or sharply declined in many, albeit not all, developed countries. Potato tubers are often sold as a high-priced vegetable in developing countries and marketed as a cheap, staple food in much of Europe and North America. Besides changes in incomes and consumers' quest for more diverse diets, government policy - in both developed and developing countries - has often been an important consideration in influencing production and use of potatoes. Expanding output of potatoes can contribute to efforts to alleviate food shortages, improve rural incomes, and reduce poverty in developing countries - particularly in South Asia where poverty is highly concentrated.