Canada held a record 56.369 million cwt of potatoes in storage on April 1. That is 5.275 million cwt more than the April 1, 2025 inventory, a 10.3% increase. Most of the extra potatoes are in Alberta, though stocks are also up in Manitoba and British Columbia. The largest percentage increase was in processing potato inventories, up 13.4% from last year. Stocks intended for table potato sales increased by 4.7%, while seed potato inventories rose by 1.2%. Canada’s March potato disappearance totaled 10.562 million cwt, down 6.2% from the 2025 pace.
Quebec’s April 1 processing stocks (chip and fry quality potatoes) totaled 2.330 million cwt. That is 102,000 cwt less than the year-earlier inventory, but it is Quebec’s third-largest April 1 processing inventory on record. Ontario held 2.133 million cwt of chip potatoes on April 1, 71,000 cwt more than the province held a year earlier. It is also Ontario’s third-largest April 1 inventory on record. Ontario’s March processing use fell 1.2% short of the 2025 pace, while usage was down 3.9% in Quebec. At the March usage rate, Ontario’s chip potato supplies would last through July 26. Quebec’s processing potatoes would not be cleaned up until mid-October, at last month's usage rate.
U.S. packers shipped 1.567 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending April 11. That is down from 1.724 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 51,522 cwt during the week ending April 11. That is down from 63,625 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 74.5% russets, 18.8% yellow potatoes, and 6.7% round white potatoes.
The 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. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho russet Norkotahs is $9.04 per cwt, unchanged from 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 2000-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 yellow potatoes $20-$26.25 per 50-pound box, unchanged from a week ago. They are also selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $36-$40 per cwt, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling yellow creamers for $40-$41 per 50-pound carton, unchanged from last week.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for $28-$35.70 per box, down from $32-$35.70 per box last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size B round white potatoes for $16-$22 per box, down from $22.25-$23.75 per box a week ago. They are also selling round white creamers for $40-$41 per 50-pound carton, down from $40-$43 per 50-pound carton last week.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.