Michigan’s potato harvest is winding down. Rain improved dry harvest conditions in parts of the state last week. The weather has been nearly perfect this week. Wisconsin growers are nearly finished digging. Quality and storage issues could be a problem in that state, due to extremely wet conditions during the first part of the growing season. Red River Valley growers have nearly finished digging. The Valley has produced an excellent potato crop this year. Growers have been pleased with both yields and quality. Chip potato supplies are plentiful in most growing areas. Business has been steady.
The Canadian potato harvest is nearly finished. PEI is the only province with potatoes left to harvest. North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) expects Canada to produce 126.0 million cwt of potatoes in 2024. That is 2.8 million cwt less than the country harvested in 2023. If the forecast is accurate, this is Canada’s second-largest potato crop on record, behind the 2023 crop. Production in Ontario and Quebec is forecast to increase by 1.5 million cwt, or 6.8%. At least part of the increase is in chip potatoes. Chip potato supplies should be sufficient for local processing needs in PEI, New Brunswick, and Alberta.
U.S. packers shipped 1.635 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Oct. 12. That is down from 1.655 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 36,567 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Oct. 12. That is down from 53,050 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 100% russets.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $9-$10 per 50-pound bale, down from $9.50-$11 per 50-pound bale a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $13-$15 per 50-pound box, down from $17-$18 per 50-pound box last week. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $17.19 per cwt, down from $17.83 per cwt a week ago.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $14-$16 per bale, up from $13-$15.50 per bale last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $14-$16 per 50-pound box, up from $13-$15.50 per 50-pound box a week ago.
Report by North American Potato Market News