Fryers in nearly all the processing states and provinces have significantly reduced contract volumes for the 2025 crop. They are the most severe cuts most growers have ever experienced. The North American potato industry is extremely concerned about the number of uncontracted potato acres growers will plant this year. Planting is underway in Wisconsin. Late-season contract reductions, combined with the state’s current fresh potato supply situation, could encourage growers to increase table potato acreage. In the Red River Valley, table potato acreage is expected to remain stable, though growers plan to shift some ground from red to yellow potatoes again this year. Growers in eastern Idaho began planting last week. Early planting conditions have been nearly ideal.
Canada held 50.53 million cwt of potatoes in storage on April 1. That is 1.88 million cwt less than the April 1, 2024 inventory, a 3.6% decline. Most of the reduction came in Alberta and Manitoba, though stocks also are down in Ontario. Processing potato inventories are down 4.1%% from last year. Stocks intended for table potato sales rose by 1.9%, while seed potato inventories fell by 6.7%. Canada’s March potato disappearance totaled 11.52 million cwt, which is 1.1% below the 2024 pace.
Quebec’s April 1 processing stocks (chip and fry quality potatoes) totaled 2.432 million cwt. That is 381,000 cwt more than the year-earlier inventory. It is Quebec’s second-largest April 1 processing inventory on record. Ontario held 2.062 million cwt of chip potatoes on April 1. That is 154,000 cwt less than the province held a year earlier. It is Ontario’s third-largest April 1 inventory on record. March processing use, in both Quebec and Ontario, nearly matched the 2024 pace. At the March usage rate, Ontario’s storage chip potato supplies would last through mid-July. Quebec’s processing potatoes would last until mid-October, at last month's usage rate.
Table potato movement has been strong ahead of the Easter Holiday. U.S. packers shipped 1.724 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending April 12. That is down from 1.631 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 63,625 cwt during the week ending April 12. That is down from 74,027 cwt shipped during the same week in 2024. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 78.1% russets, 20.9% yellow potatoes, and 1.1% round white potatoes.
The USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $10-$11 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $11-$12 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $9-$11 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for $13.50-$15 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $14.51 per cwt, unchanged from the previous week.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2000-pound tote bags for mostly $19-$21 per cwt, down from $20-$21 per cwt last week. Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $25.70-$26.25 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $40.25-$41 per box, also unchanged. They are also selling size A yellow potatoes in 2000-pound tote bags for $35-$44.90 per cwt.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for $30-$32 per box, down from $32-$33.70 per box a week ago.
– Report by North American Potato Market News