The southern Michigan harvest is underway. The crop is in good condition and yields are average to a little above average. Chip potato movement from Michigan and Virginia is expected to pick up this week. North Carolina growers finished their chip harvest last week. Harvest is continuing in Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, and the Red River Valley. Our sources indicate that chip potato business has been slow. Manufacturers are about a week to ten days behind on their contracts.
Extremely hot and dry weather is taking a toll on potato crops in the western US and Canada. Growers on both sides of the border indicate that the crop is beginning to look tired. Harvest is ramping up in the Columbia Basin. Reports indicate that the early potatoes look good. We should have a better grasp on the impact of this year’s record heat on yields and quality within the next few weeks.
US packers shipped 1.544 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending July 24, 2021. That is down from 1.585 million cwt a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 10,200 cwt of table potatoes during the week ending July 24, 2021, down from 22,000 cwt of potatoes a year ago. Michigan’s shipments last week were all Russet potatoes.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A Russet potatoes in 10# bags for mostly $8.50-$9.00 per 50# bale, up from $8.00-$9.00 last week. They are selling 40-70 count Russet count cartons for mostly $19.50-$20.00 per 50# box, up from $19.00-$20.00 per box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Burbanks is $16.52 per cwt, up from $15.93 per cwt last week.
Virginia packers are selling 50# sacks of Size A Round White potatoes for $11.75 per sack, down from $12.75 a week ago. USDA has discontinued reporting prices for North Carolina potatoes as the harvest winds down in that state.
Virginia packers are selling 50# sacks of Size A Yellow potatoes for $19.75 per sack, unchanged from last week.