US packers shipped 6.99 million cwt of fresh potatoes during December. That is 363,000 cwt less than they shipped a year earlier, a 4.9% decline. Fresh potato shipments during December were the smallest for the month in modern history. This year’s largest shipping declines came from Idaho, and the Columbia Basin. They were partially offset by stronger movement from Wisconsin, Michigan, and Texas. Russet, Red, and Round White potato shipments dropped significantly, while Yellow potato movement increased.
US packers shipped 1.173 million cwt of table potatoes during the holiday-shortened week ending January 1, 2022. That is down from 1.356 million cwt a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 59,500 cwt of potatoes during the week ending January 1, 2022. That is up from 44,500 cwt during the same week in 2021. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 89.4% Russets, 5.4% Round White potatoes, 4.5% Yellow potatoes, and 0.8% Red potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A Russets in 10# bags for $11.00-$11.50 per 50# bale, unchanged from a week ago. Wisconsin packers are selling size A Russet potatoes in 10# bags for mostly $8.50-$9.50 per 50# bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling Russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $16.00-$17.00 per 50# box, down from $16.00-$18.00 per 50# box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $22.63 per cwt, unchanged from last week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5# bags of size A Yellow potatoes for mostly $18.00-$18.50 per 50# bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling 50# cartons of size A Yellow potatoes for mostly $18.00 per 50# box, unchanged from last week. Red River Valley packers are selling size A Yellow potatoes in 2000# tote bags for mostly $22.00 per cwt, unchanged from a week ago. Long Island packers are selling size A Yellow potatoes in 2000# tote bags for mostly $17.00 per cwt, also unchanged.