Chip potato movement is steady. Plants are running almost exclusively on contract potatoes. Color issues continue to be an issue, though the potatoes should recondition with time. The biggest current concern is finding enough quality seed of the preferred varieties to plant the 2021 crop. Expectations are that demand for early new-crop potatoes will be “normal.” That might mean that chip companies will need to increase contract volumes in Florida and Texas, as last year’s contract volumes were extremely low.
US packers shipped 2.470 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending November 21, 2020. That is up from 2.385 million cwt a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 117,420 cwt of potatoes during the week ending November 21, 2020. That is up from 98,360 cwt during the same week in 2019. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 76.7% Russets, 11.0% Round White potatoes, 10.7% Yellow varieties and 1.6% Red potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A Russets in 10# bags for mostly $12.00-$13.00 per 50# bale, unchanged for the week. Wisconsin packers are selling size A Russet potatoes in 10# bags for mostly $9.00-$9.50 per 50# bale, up from $8.50-$9.50 a week ago. They are selling 40-70 count Russet count cartons for $12.00-$14.00 per 50# box, also unchanged for the week. The weighted average shipping point price for new-crop Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $15.40 per cwt, unchanged from last week at the same time.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5# bales of size A Yellow potatoes for mostly $18.00-$19.00 per bale, unchanged from last week.
Long Island baled 10/5# size A Round White potatoes are selling for mostly $12.00-$12.50 per 50# bale, unchanged for the week. Maine packers are selling 2 inch minimum Round White 10/5# film bags for $11.00-$11.50 per 50# bale, unchanged from last week.