The Michigan potato harvest is virtually complete. A few growers are still shipping straight from the field, due to favorable weather and the relatively large crop. Reports indicate that solids are good, and recovery rates have been above average. The chip potato market is quiet. There is a large supply of good quality chip potatoes available. Open market potatoes are selling for several dollars below contract prices. Contract negotiations have not yet begun for the 2025 crop. Growers indicate that costs are up, but buyers suggest that contract prices are likely to be flat, at best, this year.
U.S. packers shipped 1.776 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Oct. 26, 2024. That is up from 1.773 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 67,086 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Oct. 26, 2024. That is down from 73,880 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 100% russets.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $10.00-$11.00 per 50-pound bale. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $11.00-$12.00 per 50-pound bale. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $9.00-$10.00 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $13.00-$15.00 per 50# box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $16.94 per cwt, unchanged from last week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $14.00-$16.00 per bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $14.00-$16.00 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $21.00 per cwt
Report by North American Potato Market News