Generally available all year from the USA. Prices rise and supplies tighten during the summer months, but generally speaking, you will be able to enjoy them virtually all year. Naturally purple skins and meat make this one of the most interesting and beautiful produce specimens of the last decade. Not a new item, it was one of the first crops enjoyed by ancient civilizations in South America, and potatoes appear to have been a part of the diets of early inhabitants of the southwest United States, too. Now apparently home again, some of the best specialty potatoes are grown in southern Colorado, between the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountain ranges. Prepare purple potatoes as you would any potato. Often times, their color is enhanced with cooking, although long-simmering preparations may diminish their sheen just a bit. Their skins are edible, with a distinct “earthy” flavor that is not overpowering. Combine purple, red, and white fingerling potatoes to make a patriotic potato salad that will have your family, friends and customers saluting your culinary genius! Althoughthey do not produce ethylene gas, they are sensitive to it, so keep away from other ethylene producing produce for a longer shelf life. Best stored covered between 45-50 degrees F. On average, there are approximately 4 to 5 purple potatoes per pound.