Michigan’s potato harvest is moving forward. The weather has been nearly ideal during the past 30 days. Daytime temperatures have been favorable and nights have been cool. The state has also received timely rain showers. Growers are expecting above average quality and yields in both central and southwest Michigan. New-crop russets need a little extra time to size up.
Buyers report that chip potato movement has been steady. Field delivery supplies are abundant. Shipments are running a week or two behind. Contract discussions have started for the 2027 crop. Early indications suggest that contract volumes will be down, partially due to demand disruptions.
U.S. packers shipped 1.415 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Aug. 22. That is up from 1.370 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 26,767 cwt during the week ending Aug. 22. That is up from 26,000 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 100% russets.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $10-$11 per 50-pound bale, down from mostly $11 per 50-pound bale last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for $19-$20 per 50-pound box, unchanged from a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for new-crop Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $21.61 per cwt, up from $20.90 per cwt the previous week.
— This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission