Chip potato movement has slowed down during March. Michigan growers shipped 713,400 cwt of chip potatoes during the four weeks in March compared to 1.06 million cwt during the same four-week period a year earlier. That is down 32.4% from year earlier movement.
U.S. chip potato movement totaled 3.99 million cwt during the same timeframe. That is 973,000 cwt, or 19.6%, below year-earlier movement.
Other states
- Wisconsin’s March chip potato movement is down 19.7% from last year’s pace.
- Reported March chip potato shipments from New York and Maine are down 28.3% and 21.8%, respectively.
- Florida’s chip potato movement is picking up. Growers shipped 56,700 cwt of chip potatoes during March. That is 15,500 cwt, or 21.5% less than the same four-week period in 2022.
Fresh
U.S. packers shipped 1.719 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 25. That is up from 1.641 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan’s reported shipments totaled 70,200 cwt of potatoes during the week ending March 25. That is up from 49,500 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 68.6% russets, 23.7% yellow potatoes, and 7.7% round white potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A Russets in 10-pound bags for mostly $16.00-$17 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A Russets in 5-pound bags for mostly $17-$18 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $14.50-$16 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $27-$32 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $37.70 per cwt. That is up from $35.82 per cwt a week ago.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $28 per cwt, up from $26-$28 per cwt a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound sacks for mostly $30.00, unchanged from last week. Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow new-crop potatoes for $25.95-$30.25 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.25-$50.95 per box, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white new-crop potatoes for $36.95-$38.95 per box, down from $38.25-$40.95 per box last week. They are selling round white creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.95-$50.95 per box, unchanged from a week ago.
– Report by North American Potato Market News