Canada held 61.88 million cwt of potatoes in storage on March 1. That is 2.18 million cwt less than 2024 holdings, a 3.4% decline. Most of the reduction came in Alberta and Manitoba, though stocks also are down in Ontario and British Columbia. Potato stocks in the Maritime Provinces and Quebec exceeded year-earlier inventories. February table potato disappearance exceeded 2024 usage by 5.3%. Processing potato disappearance was down 0.6% from the previous year. At 1.16 million cwt, total February seed potato movement jumped by 416,000 cwt, or 55.9%, relative to 2024. Increased movement from Alberta was the main factor, though seed shipments from PEI also were up. Alberta growers have been moving seed across the border as quickly as possible, to avoid tariffs.
The U.S. exported 6.16 million cwt of potatoes and potato products (raw product equivalent) during January. That is 422,000 cwt more than year-earlier sales, a 7.4% increase. It follows a 13.1% increase in December and a 9.1% decline in November.
French fry and other frozen product exports jumped 21.2% above January 2024 sales.
Fresh potato exports rose by 11.0%. Dehydrated product and potato chip exports fell by 16.4% and 11.3%, respectively.
January potato exports exceeded the three-year average volume by 11.2%.
U.S. packers shipped 1.708 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 15. That is down from 1.731 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 64,641 cwt during the week ending March 15. That is down from 72,459 cwt shipped during the same week in 2024. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 83.6% russets, 8.8% round white potatoes, 7.0% yellow potatoes, and 0.7% red potatoes.
The USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $10-$11 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $11-$12 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $9-$10.50 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for $13-$15 per 50-pound box, up from $12-$13 per 50-pound box last week. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $15.52 per cwt, down from $15.79 per cwt the previous week.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $19-$21 per cwt, unchanged from last week. They are selling yellow creamers for mostly $26-$28 per 50-pound carton, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $25.70-$26.25 per box, up from $23.70-$26.25 per box a week ago. They are also selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $40.25-$40.95 per box, unchanged from last week.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for $32-$36.70 per box, down from $35.25-$36.70 per box a week ago.
– Report by North American Potato Market News