The western states represented by WCC-27 produced approximately two-thirds of all 
potatoes grown in the U.S. in 1998.  The predominant variety for many decades, 
both for processing and fresh markets, has been Russet Burbank, which accounted 
for 65% of the western U.S. potato acreage in the early 1980’s but only 50% 1998.  
This slow steady decline in Russet Burbank has been offset, not by one variety but by the increased use of many newer varieties.  These include Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Shepody, Russet Nugget, Russet Norkotah, and several clonal selections of Russet Norkotah.  Chipping varieties, fresh market red-skinned and fresh market white-skinned varieties have also seen some shifts from one or two dominant varieties to numerous varieties, each with improved adaptation to different growing, storage or processing conditions, or market preferences.  An increase has occurred in acreage of Snowden and Frito Lay varieties; CalWhite has replaced White Rose as the dominant long white for fresh market; Dark Red Norland and Red LaSoda still dominate the red-skinned varieties, but new releases from the western region indicate the probability of changes.  An increase in yellow-flesh acreage, primarily Yukon Gold variety, has occurred in recent years in response to increased market demand; breeders in the western region have increased emphasis on yellow-flesh varieties.  Private European seed companies have begun to export yellow flesh varieties, which are common in Europe, to the U.S, facilitated by the opportunity to protect the rights to their seed.
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Russet Burbank produces oblong to long, russet-skinned tubers with high solids, 
has a long storage dormancy, and produces excellent baked and processed products.
  Despite these strengths, Russet Burbank has serious weaknesses.  Russet Burbank
   is susceptible to Verticillium wilt, early blight, late blight, most potato viruses 
   (including leafroll net necrosis), and some physiological disorders including hollow 
   heart, brown center, internal brown spot, blackspot bruise, and dark-end fries caused 
   by sugar accumulation in tuber stem ends when the crop is stressed.  It is much more
    susceptible than most cultivars to knobs, off-shapes, and internal and external 
	defects associated with uneven growing conditions caused by fluctuating temperature
	 and moisture.  Serious quality reduction due to small tuber size and internal 
	 disorders aggravated by high temperatures is not uncommon for this variety.

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Russet Burbank requires a high level of management, requiring more fertilizer, water,
 and pesticides than are required for most alternative cultivars.  The recent movement 
 toward more efficient use of fertilizers and irrigation, and less dependence on
 agricultural pesticides, adds urgency to the need for alternative cultivars better
 adapted to low input production.
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Russet Norkotah has become the predominant fresh market variety in many areas, as well 
as early season processing.  It is early maturing with very smooth dark
 russet-skinned tubers that have good storage characteristics. 
  The tubers are resistant to most physiological disorders resulting in high U.S. No. 1 grades.
   The vines, and tubers, are susceptible to many viral and fungal diseases and to
    environmental stresses.  These susceptibilities frequently result in early dying and low yields. Growers have compensated by increasing nutrient and pesticide inputs.  Western region breeders have made several Russet Norkotah clonal selections with increased vine vigor.  Characterization of these clonal selections is incomplete, but preliminary indications are that tuber yield is higher, maturity is lower, and input requirements are lower.
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Evaluation of germplasm from a variety of sources under varying conditions offers 
the greatest probability of identifying superior new potato cultivars with improved 
pest resistance and reduced production inputs.  Varietal materials from a wide variety 
of sources are tested through the WCC-27.  Materials that are successful in the
 Northwest Tri-State (Washington, Oregon, Idaho) and the new Southwest Region 
 (Texas, Colorado, California) variety evaluation programs, as well as material 
 from other programs, are incorporated into the WCC-27 evaluation scheme. 
  Combining promising new genetic technologies and wild germplasm with traditional 
  breeding efforts will result in superior new cultivars.  It is vitally important 
  that germplasm be continually evaluated and incorporated into cultivars that 
   will improve their consumer quality and the environment.  
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Issues of increasing importance include late blight disease, transgenic and other 
biotechnology breeding tools, and plant variety protection.  Western region
 breeders are active in addressing these issues.  It is essential that they are
  discussed from many perspectives and that strategies be developed and implemented 
  as a team.
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A regionally diverse interdisciplinary team approach is critical to the success
 of the potato variety development program.  Improvement or replacement of Russet 
 Burbank, Russet Norkotah, and other varieties will require the combined efforts
  of breeders, physiologists, pathologists, agronomists, biotechnologists, 
  entomologist, virologists, extension specialists, economists, growers and 
  industry working in concert.