Chip potato markets remain quiet ahead of the Christmas holiday. Plants continue to run almost exclusively on contract potatoes.
Pacific Northwest processors have purchased and turned back to growers approximately 5 million cwt of potatoes. Most of those potatoes are in the Columba Basin, though some are in Idaho and Alberta. Part of the extra supply has been diverted to cattle feed, but local feedlots do not have the capacity to use all the potatoes. Despite stronger movement, Idaho’s table potato supplies are backing up. Marketers are worried that potatoes turned back to growers could be diverted to the table potato market.
Stats Canada reports that Canadian growers harvested 128.1 million cwt of potatoes during 2023. That is 4.6 million cwt more than the 2022 crop, a 3.7% increase. Ontario growers produced 442,000 cwt more potatoes in 2023, a 5.4% increase. Quebec’s potato crop is down 1.5 million cwt, or 10.3%, from a year ago. Production in Prince Edward Island (PEI) and New Brunswick dropped 7.1% and 12.5% from a year earlier, respectively. Production is up significantly in Manitoba (+13.9%), Saskatchewan (+22.8%), Alberta (+19.6%), and British Columbia (+33.8%).
Canada’s chipstock supply situation is mixed. Agriculture Canada reported this week that Ontario had 6.39 million cwt of potatoes left in storage on December 1. This year’s stocks exceeded the 2022 inventory by 708,000 cwt, or 12.5%. Intended use data show a 340,000-cwt increase in chip potato stocks, to 4.43 million cwt, an 8.3% increase. On the other hand, Quebec had 9.29 million cwt of potatoes in storage on December 1. This year’s stocks fell 601,000 cwt, or 6.1% below year-earlier holdings. Processing stocks (chip and frozen) fell by 647,000 cwt, or 16.0%. Supplies could be sufficient to carry the Canadian chip industry through the storage season. However, quality issues and storage problems will likely reduce the useable supply.
U.S. packers shipped 1.688 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Dec. 9. That is up from 1.525 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 50,720 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Dec. 9. That is down from 54,620 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 92.7% russets, 5.5% yellow potatoes, 1.3% round white potatoes, and 0.5% red potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $11.50-$14.75 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $12.50-$15.75 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $9-$10.50 per 50-pound bale, down from $9-$11.50 per 50-pound bale a week ago. They are selling Russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $11-$13 per 50-pound box, unchanged from last week. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $16.04 per cwt, up from $15.93 per cwt last week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16.00 per bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16.00 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $22 per cwt, unchanged from last week. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for mostly $30 per 50-pound box, also unchanged.
– Report by North American Potato Market News