During the four weeks of March, U.S. chip potato shipments exceeded 2025 movement by 6.2%. At 3.763 million cwt, that is 220,000 cwt more than the industry shipped during the same period last year. However, March shipments were down 3.6%, relative to the three-year average.
Strong movement from Michigan (+276,000 cwt) and the Southwest region (+141,000 cwt) were the largest factors in this year’s increase.
The Rocky Mountain region (+57,000 cwt) and the Red River Valley (+28,000 cwt) also posted increased movement during the month.
In contrast, March chipstock movement from Wisconsin (-143,000 cwt), Maine (-59,000 cwt), the Midwest region (-45,000 cwt), and New York (-24,000 cwt) fell below the 2025 pace.
Shipments from the West Coast region, the Mid-Central region, and Pennsylvania nearly matched year-earlier movement.
U.S. chip potato shipments for the season (August-March), total 30.081 million cwt. That is 3.079 million cwt, or 9.3%, less than year-earlier shipments.
Table potato movement has picked up ahead of the Easter Holiday, which is two weeks earlier this year than it was last year. U.S. packers shipped 1.806 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 28. That is up from 1.669 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 81,271 cwt during the week ending March 28. That is up from 68,034 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 77.4% russets, 17.8% yellow potatoes, and 4.8% round white potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for mostly $10-$11 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $11-$12 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $7-$7.50 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $10 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Idaho Russet table potato prices increased slightly last week, the first price improvement since last August. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $9.07 per cwt, up from $8.91 per cwt the previous week.
Red River Valley packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for $12-$15 per bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes $12-$14 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. They are also selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $16-$22 per cwt, unchanged from last week. Red River Valley packers are selling yellow creamers for $25-$30 per 50-pound carton, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for $32-$35.70 per box, up from $32-$34.70 per box last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size B round white potatoes for $22.25-$25.75 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are also selling round white creamers for $40-$46 per 50-pound carton, also unchanged.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.