Chip potato movement has been steady. The quality of storage chip potatoes has been holding up well.
Weather
- Rain has slowed planting in Southwest Michigan. Approximately 10% of those potatoes have been planted.
- Rain in Southeast U.S. growing areas has slowed crop development.
- Parts of central Ohio have experienced frost recently.
- The North Florida potato crop is in good condition.
Overall, crop development is slightly behind schedule in most growing areas. Early-harvested potatoes will be limited this year.
Chip potato supplies are likely to be tight until July. Open market chip potatoes are worth contract prices, but there are not many available.
Fresh
U.S. packers shipped 1.624 million cwt of tablestock potatoes during the week ending April 8. That is up from 1.541 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan’s reported shipments totaled 54,200 cwt of potatoes during the week ending April 8. That is down from 55,900 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 70.9% russets, 23.3% yellow potatoes, and 5.8% round white potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for mostly $16-$17 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for mostly $17-$18 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $14.50-$16 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling Russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $29-$32 per 50-pound box, up from $28-$32 per 50-pound box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $38.29 per cwt. That is up from $37.70 per cwt a week ago.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $28 per cwt, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound sacks for mostly $30, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow new-crop potatoes for $25.95-$30.25 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.25-$50.95 per box, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for mostly $29.95 per box, down from $36.95-$38.95 per box last week. They are selling round white creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.95-$50.95 per box, unchanged from a week ago.
– Report by North American Potato Market News