The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that growers in the storage states held 127.3 million cwt of potatoes on April 1. That is 1.8 million cwt less than those same states had in storage a year earlier, a 1.4% decline. Michigan’s reported April 1 potato stocks are 4.7 million cwt. That is 600,000 cwt, or 14.6%, more than the state held a year earlier. It is the state’s largest April 1 inventory on record. Michigan’s calculated February-March disappearance exceeded 2025 movement by 200,000 cwt, or 4.8%.
Chip potato shipments from the storage states totaled 6.42 million cwt during February and March. That fell 1.03 million cwt below year-earlier movement, a 13.8% decline. Reduced shipments from Wisconsin, Maine, Texas, Nebraska, and North Dakota were partially offset by increased movement from Michigan. Chip potato supplies in the storage states appear to be sufficient for industry needs.
Higher fuel prices and increased shipping costs may be giving Michigan packers a slight advantage, allowing them to increase shipments relative to earlier in the season. U.S. packers shipped 1.669 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending April 18. That is down from 1.772 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 67,323 cwt during the week ending April 18. That is up slightly from 67,042 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 80.4% russets, 13.2% yellow potatoes, and 6.4% 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 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 yellow potatoes $23-$26.25 per 50-pound box, up from $20-$26.25 per 50-pound box a week ago. They are also selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $40-$43 per cwt, up from $36-$40 per cwt last week. Florida packers are selling yellow creamers for $38-$41 per 50-pound carton, down from $40-$41 per 50-pound carton a week ago.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for $28-$35.70 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size B round white potatoes for $15-$23.70 per box, compared to $16-$22 per box a week ago. They are also selling round white creamers for $38-$41 per 50-pound carton, down from $40-$41 per 50-pound carton last week.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.