U.S. chip potato shipments during the five weeks in March exceeded 2023 movement by 5.4%. At 5.25 million cwt, that is 270,000 cwt more than the industry shipped during the same period a last year. Strong movement from Michigan (+140,000 cwt) and Wisconsin (+137,000 cwt) were the largest factors in the increase. The Mid-Central region (+51,000 cwt), the Southwest region (+37,000 cwt), and Florida (+21,000 cwt) also posted strong movement during March. In contrast, March chip potato movement fell short of the 2023 pace in the Midwest region (-39,000 cwt), Maine (-26,000 cwt), the Rocky Mountain region (-15,000 cwt), Pennsylvania (-15,000 cwt), and the West Coast region (-13,000 cwt). Shipments from the Red River Valley and New York nearly matched year-earlier movement. U.S. chip potato shipments for the season (August-March), total 36.27 million cwt. That exceeds year-earlier movement by 1.19 million cwt, or 3.4%.
U.S. packers shipped 1.710 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 30. That is up from 1.681 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 86,734 cwt of potatoes during the week ending March 30. That is up from 83,503 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 70.0% russets, 23.3% yellow potatoes, 4.7% round white potatoes, and 2.1% red potatoes.
The USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $9-$13.75 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $10-$14.75 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $8-$9 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $10-$12 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $12.46 per cwt, down from $13.18 per cwt last week.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $21-$22 per cwt, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for mostly $30 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 5-pound film bags for $21.95-$28.25 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $20.95-$28.25 per box, also unchanged. Florida packers are also selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $35.95-$40.25 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $36.90-$38.90 per cwt, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white new-crop potatoes for $35.25-$38.95 per box, unchanged from last week.
− Report by North American Potato Market News