North American Potato Market News (NAMPN) currently projects that growers in the reporting states will plant 878,000 acres of potatoes in 2026. That is 24,000 acres, or 2.7%, less than the current estimate of the 2025 planted area. The largest acreage reduction is expected in Idaho, though we also expect the planted area to decline in several other states. Growers across the country are extremely concerned about current market conditions, rising production costs, the lack of profitable alternative crops, the ability to obtain financing, increasing global competition, and limited irrigation water supplies. In addition, North American growers also have a huge supply of potatoes from the 2025 crop in storage. Those potatoes will likely be processed and marketed several weeks into the 2026/27 marketing year. If our estimate is correct, it would be the smallest US potato area since 1952. Nevertheless, if the U.S. produces a trendline yield, like it did last year, this year’s expected acreage reduction may not be enough to significantly improve prices for open-market potatoes.
U.S. packers shipped 1.653 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending April 4. That is down from 1.711 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 51,428 cwt during the week ending April 4. That is down from 54,024 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 60.3% russets, 34.4% yellow potatoes, and 5.3% 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. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $9.04 per cwt, down from $9.07 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 yellow potatoes $20-$26.50 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 $32-$35.70 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size B round white potatoes for $22.25-$23.75 per box, down from $22.25-$25.75 per box a week ago. They are also selling round white creamers for $40-$43 per 50-pound carton, down from $40-$46 per 50-pound carton last week.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.