Shepody
Early-maturing fry variety. Used by McDonald's alongside Russet Burbank for early-season fries.
At a glance
Best uses
About this variety
Early-maturing fry variety. Used by McDonald's alongside Russet Burbank for early-season fries.
Shepody is classified as a north america variety released in 1980, primarily used for frying / fries, processing / industrial. 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 Shepody grown?
Shepody is most commonly grown in North America, with original release from Canada. The variety is commercially established within its regional context. 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 Shepody 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 Shepody best used for?
Shepody is best suited to frying / fries, processing / industrial. Early-maturing fry variety. Used by McDonald's alongside Russet Burbank for early-season fries.
End-use suitability is determined by specific gravity, flesh colour, dry-matter content, and reducing-sugar levels. Processing-grade varieties typically require specific gravity ≥1.080 and low reducing sugars to support Maillard browning without producing dark or bitter products. See the complete varieties guide for cross-variety comparison.
When was Shepody released and by whom?
Shepody was released in 1980 by Canada. 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; Shepody's continued commercial cultivation reflects either distinctive culinary characteristics or specific niche-market demand that newer varieties haven't displaced.
How does Shepody compare to similar varieties?
Within the North America family of cultivars, Shepody. 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 Shepody
What is Shepody potato?+
Shepody is a north america potato variety released in 1980 originating from Canada. Early-maturing fry variety. Used by McDonald's alongside Russet Burbank for early-season fries.
What is Shepody potato best used for?+
Shepody is best suited to frying / fries, processing / industrial. Early-maturing fry variety. Used by McDonald's alongside Russet Burbank for early-season fries.
When was Shepody released?+
Shepody was released in 1980. The variety is classified as north america.
Where is Shepody grown?+
Shepody is most commonly grown in North America, with original release from Canada. 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 · Linked to Wikidata for cross-reference.