During the five weeks in March, U.S. chip potato shipments fell 12.5% short of 2024 movement. At 4.62 million cwt, that is 657,000 cwt less than the industry shipped during the same period last year.
Reduced movement from Michigan (-380,000 cwt) and the Southwest region (-191,000 cwt) were the largest factors in the decline. Wisconsin (-56,000 cwt), the Red River Valley (-31,000 cwt), the Mid-Central region (-30,000 cwt), Pennsylvania (-20,000 cwt), and the Rocky Mountain region (-9,000 cwt) also posted slower movement during March.
In contrast, March chip potato movement exceeded the 2024 pace in New York (+32,000 cwt), the West Coast region (+22,000 cwt), and Maine (+9,000 cwt). Shipments from the Midwest region and Florida nearly matched year-earlier movement. U.S. chip potato shipments for the season (August-March), total 34.00 million cwt. That is 3.02 million cwt, or 8.2%, less than year-earlier shipments.
U.S. packers shipped 1.651 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 29. That is down from 1.710 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 50,484 cwt during the week ending March 29. That is down from 86,734 cwt shipped during the same week in 2024. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 95.6% russets, 2.6% round white potatoes, and 1.8% yellow 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, down from $14.88 per cwt the previous week.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $20-$21 per cwt, up from $19-$21 per cwt last week. They are selling yellow creamers for mostly $28-$30 per 50-pound carton, up from $26-$28 per 50-pound carton a week ago. Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $25.70-$26.25 per box, unchanged from last week. They are also selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $40.25-$40.95 per box, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for $32-$34.75 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size B round white potatoes for $21.70-$23.70 per box, also unchanged.
– Report by North American Potato Market News