The Dec. 1 U.S. Potato Stocks report is scheduled be released today. That report will contain valuable information for the potato industry. Besides the bottom-line inventory number, the report includes data on processing use. It also will include information on regional stocks and “other” usage. We will provide a complete analysis of the data in this week’s newsletter and a summary in next week's Market Report.
Frozen processing contract negotiations began in the Columbia Basin last week. One processor is expected to reduce contract volumes by close to 12% in the Basin. That company will likely make large cuts in Alberta and possibly in other regions. Contract acreage could be relatively stable for the other processors. Early indications suggest that contract prices for the 2026 crop will be down in the low single-digit percentage range. Some industry experts expected larger price cuts based on the current supply situation, which has left growers with very little leverage again this year.
U.S. packers shipped 1.82 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Dec. 13. That is down from 1.97 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 54,330 cwt during the week ending Dec. 13. That is down from 83,098 cwt shipped during the same week in 2024. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 88.1% russets, 8.4% yellow potatoes. and 3.5% 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 $11-$12 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $10.18 per cwt, down from $10.41 per cwt the previous week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for $14-$16 per bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $14-$15 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size B Yellow potatoes for mostly $11 per 50-pound box, unchanged from last week.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.