This Is Not a Drill: America Is Facing A French Fry Shortage

If you thought Popeyes running out of chicken sandwiches was the worst thing to happen, you thought wrong. According to The Takeout, the U.S. may soon experience a shortage of french fries.

Cold and wet weather have ruined this year’s potato crop and while farmers in Idaho and Alberta were able to save part of their crop, those in Manitoba, North Dakota and Minnesota weren’t as lucky. Farmers had no choice but to abandon their fields of potatoes. The Department of Agriculture predicts that the overall U.S. harvest will drop 6.1% this year, which is the greatest shortage since 2010.

Not only are the prices of your local grocery store’s potatoes expected to rise, but the beloved french fry is too.

“French fry demand has just been outstanding lately, and so supplies can’t meet the demand,” said Travis Blacker, industry-relations director with the Idaho Potato Commission.

“This was not the kind of negativity I need heading into the new decade,” said @MycahABC13.