February US chip potato shipments exceeded 2021 movement by 1.5%. At 4.61 million cwt, that is 67,000 cwt more than the industry shipped a year earlier. Strong shipments from Maine (+79,000 cwt), Michigan (+71,000 cwt), and New York (+56,000 cwt) were the largest factors in the increase. Shipments from the Mid-Central region (+72,000 cwt) and the Mid-West region (+33,000 cwt) also increased. In contrast, February chip potato movement fell short of the 2021 pace is several areas. The West Coast region (-85,000 cwt), Wisconsin (-68,000 cwt), the Rocky Mountain region (-45,000 cwt), and the Red River Valley (-39,000 cwt), each posted reduced movement during February. Season-to-date chip potato shipments, through February 28, totaled 31.8 million cwt. That falls 2.1 million cwt, 6.2% short of year-earlier movement. Chip potato markets remain quiet. Buyers appear to have plenty of storage potatoes to carry them through the season.
US packers shipped 1.676 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 5, 2022. That is down from 1.852 million cwt a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 54,300 cwt of potatoes during the week ending March 5, 2022. That is down from 67,600 cwt during the same week in 2021. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 75.1% Russets, 9.9% Yellow potatoes, 2.7% Round White potatoes, and 0.9% Red potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A Russets in 10# bags for mostly $11.00-$12.00 per 50# bale, unchanged from a week ago. Wisconsin packers are selling size A Russet potatoes in 10# bags for mostly $10.00-$10.50 per 50# bale, up from $9.50-$10.50 per 50# bale last week. They are selling Russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $17.00-$18.00 per 50# box, up from $16.00-$17.50 per 50# box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $21.24 per cwt, down from $21.40 per cwt last week.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A Yellow potatoes in 2000# tote bags for mostly $25.00-$28.00 per cwt, up from $25.00-$26.00 per cwt last week. Florida new-crop size A Yellow potatoes are selling for mostly $25.95-$28.25 per 50# carton, unchanged from a week ago.
Maine packers are selling 2 inch minimum Round White potatoes in 10/5# film bags for $10.50-$11.00 per 50# bale, unchanged from a week ago. Florida packers are selling 50# cartons of size A Round White new-crop potatoes for $34.95-$35.25 per box, unchanged from last week.