USDA reports that growers in the storage states held 142.10 million cwt of potatoes on April 1. That is 20.80 million cwt more than those same states had in storage a year earlier, a 17.1% increase. Michigan’s reported April 1 potato stocks are 4.1 million cwt. That is 400,000 cwt, or 10.8%, more than the state held a year earlier. It is the state’s second-largest April 1 inventory on record (behind April 2022). February-March disappearance exceeded 2023 movement by 300,000 cwt, or 6.7%. Chipstock movement increased by 238,000 cwt, or 14.4%. Table potato movement climbed 159,000 cwt above year-earlier shipments, a 30.1% increase.
Chip potato shipments from the storage states totaled 8.65 million cwt during February and March. That exceeded year-earlier movement by 931,000 cwt, or 12.1%. Increased shipments from Michigan, Nebraska, and Wisconsin were the largest factors. Shipments from the West Coast region and North Dakota also exceeded the 2023 pace. Chip potato supplies are plentiful in the storage states. The 2023 crop has been holding up better than expected. Northern plants may be able to run longer than usual on storage potatoes. Rain has set back crop development in North Carolina. Early planting in Michigan is ahead of schedule. The chip potato harvest is underway in central and northern Florida.
U.S. packers shipped 1.606 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending April 20. That is up from 1.584 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 68,317 cwt of potatoes during the week ending April 20. That is up from 62,088 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 71.7% russets, 17.4% yellow potatoes, 10.2% round white potatoes, and 0.6% red potatoes.
The USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $9-$13.75 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $10-$14.75 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $8-$9 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $10-$12 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $11.61 per cwt, down from $12.06 per cwt last week.
Florida packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 5-pound film bags for $21.95-$28.25 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $20.95-$26.25 per box, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $35.95-$40.25 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $40-$44 per cwt, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white new-crop potatoes for $35.25-$35.95 per box, unchanged from last week.
− Report by North American Potato Market News