Red Pontiac
Versatile red-skinned mid-season variety. Smooth round tubers, good home-garden choice.
At a glance
Best uses
About this variety
Versatile red-skinned mid-season variety. Smooth round tubers, good home-garden choice.
Red Pontiac is classified as a north america variety released in 1949, primarily used for all-purpose, boiling / salad. For agronomic specs, breeder details, and trial data not yet captured here, refer to the source registries linked at the bottom of this page.
Where is Red Pontiac grown?
Red Pontiac is most commonly grown in North America, with original release from USA. The variety is a heritage variety preserved for distinctive characteristics. Cultivation footprint reflects the variety's adaptation to local agroclimatic conditions and the breeding programme's regional focus.
Production data for the specific countries where Red Pontiac dominates is documented through CIP, USDA, AHDB, ICAR-CPRI, NAK Netherlands, and national agricultural agencies depending on origin. Cross-reference our country profiles for production context — see the global country index or specific producers in North America.
What is Red Pontiac best used for?
Red Pontiac is best suited to all-purpose, boiling / salad. Versatile red-skinned mid-season variety. Smooth round tubers, good home-garden choice.
End-use suitability is determined by specific gravity, flesh colour, dry-matter content, and reducing-sugar levels. Variety selection should match end-use specifications documented through breeder guidance and trial data. See the complete varieties guide for cross-variety comparison.
When was Red Pontiac released and by whom?
Red Pontiac was released in 1949 by USA. The variety belongs to the North America family of cultivars and reflects the breeding objectives of its origin programme — typically a combination of yield improvement, disease resistance, and end-use specification matching the dominant commercial demand of the period.
Variety persistence over multiple decades is unusual in modern agriculture; Red Pontiac's continued commercial cultivation reflects either distinctive culinary characteristics or specific niche-market demand that newer varieties haven't displaced.
How does Red Pontiac compare to similar varieties?
Within the North America family of cultivars, Red Pontiac is classified as a heritage variety. Comparable varieties include Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah, Ranger Russet — each with distinct breeding histories and end-use profiles. Cross-comparison data is available through our variety database.
For systematic comparison see the variety compare tool or browse all 237 varieties in our database. Each variety has its own dedicated profile with origin, traits, and uses documented from primary breeder sources.
Frequently asked questions about Red Pontiac
What is Red Pontiac potato?+
Red Pontiac is a north america potato variety released in 1949 originating from USA. Versatile red-skinned mid-season variety. Smooth round tubers, good home-garden choice.
What is Red Pontiac potato best used for?+
Red Pontiac is best suited to all-purpose, boiling / salad. Versatile red-skinned mid-season variety. Smooth round tubers, good home-garden choice.
When was Red Pontiac released?+
Red Pontiac was released in 1949. The variety is classified as north america (Heritage).
Where is Red Pontiac grown?+
Red Pontiac is most commonly grown in North America, with original release from USA. Cross-reference our country profiles for production data.
Variety profiles aggregate data from CIP Lima genebank, ICAR-CPRI variety catalogue, EU Common Catalogue, USDA PVPO, AHDB Potato Variety Database, NIAB, NAK Netherlands, the Potato Pedigree Database, national breeding programmes (CAAS, EARO, BARI, INTA, EMBRAPA, INIFAP, IHAR-PIB, VNIIKKH), and peer-reviewed literature in Potato Research and the American Journal of Potato Research.
Updated May 2026 · Reviewed by Potatopedia editorial team.