Buyers report that chip potato movement has been steady. Actual shipments during the past three to four weeks are likely not down as much as USDA reports have indicated. Strong movement from Indiana, Illinois, and other early growing areas may not have been fully reported. Field delivery supplies are plentiful. There is no demand for open potatoes.
Michigan’s potato harvest continues to ramp up. Temperatures have cooled down significantly, making great weather for harvesting. Shipments from the central part of the state have been steady. The summer heat took a toll on yields and quality. Reports indicate that yields for early chip potatoes are average at best. Solids are below average for early harvested potatoes. Growers in Southwest Michigan plan to start digging storage potatoes during the second week of September. Reports suggest that the size profile is small for early new-crop russets. The main russet crop is in relatively good condition. Size is expected to be larger for those potatoes.
U.S. packers shipped 1.363 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Aug. 23. That is down from 1.397 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 26,000 cwt during the week ending Aug. 23. That is down from 36,525 cwt shipped during the same week in 2024. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 94.8% russets, and 5.2% yellow potatoes.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $10-$11 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for $18 per 50-pound box, down from $17.50-$20 per 50-pound box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for new-crop Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $16.94 per cwt, down from $19.76 per cwt the previous week.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.