Michigan’s 2024 potato crop is in good condition so far. The state has received rain showers every other day or so. Growers are worried about the amount of volunteer potatoes in rotational crops. In addition, potatoes that are dumped late in the growing season could increase the spread of late blight and insect pests.
At 4.63 million cwt, May U.S. chip potato shipments exceeded 2023 movement by 473,000 cwt, or 11.4%. Strong movement from Michigan (+330,000 cwt), the West Coast region (+276,000 cwt), Wisconsin (+197,000 cwt), the Southwest region (+138,000 cwt), and the Mid-Central region (+122,000 cwt) offset reduced shipments from Florida (-633,000 cwt) and the Red River Valley (-69,000 cwt). The Midwest region (+70,000 cwt) and New York (+65,000 cwt) also reported increased movement during May. U.S. chip potato shipments, season-to-date (August 1 through May 31), totaled 45.33 million cwt. That is 1.26 million cwt, or 2.9%, more than year-earlier movement.
Michigan still has a substantial volume of chip potatoes in storage, some of which are likely to be destroyed. At a record 656,000 cwt, Michigan’s May chip potato shipments doubled 2023 movement. May shipments also exceeded the 5-year average pace by 63.3%. The state’s chipstock shipments, season-to-date, are running 945,000 cwt, or 10.2%, behind last year’s pace.
U.S. packers shipped 1.421 million cwt of table potatoes during the holiday-shortened week ending June 1. That is up from 1.373 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 53,358 cwt of potatoes during the week ending June 1. That is up from 44,970 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 89.3% russets, 9.1% yellow potatoes, 0.8% round white potatoes, and 0.8% red potatoes.
The USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $9-$10.50 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $10-$11.50 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 $11-$1 per 50-pound box, up from $11-$12 per 50-pound box last week. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $10.91 per cwt, up from $10.90 per cwt last week.
Florida packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 5-pound film bags for mostly $28.95-$29.95 per 50-pound bale, up from $22.95-$25.95 per 50-pound bale a week ago. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $28.95 per box, up from $21.95-$24.95 per box last week. Florida packers are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $35.95-$40.95 per box, unchanged from a week ago.
USDA has discontinued reporting prices for Florida round white potatoes.
− Report by North American Potato Market News