Market Report December 2nd, 2020

Chip potato market is quiet in the post-Thanksgiving period. Movement is steady though some buyers are shifting interest. Nevertheless, buyers may be pulling storage supplies at an unsustainable rate. USDA data on chip potato shipments through the end of November show that Michigan has shipped 16.5% more potatoes than it had at the same time last year. The data also show a 24.9% increase in shipments from Wisconsin, a 31.8% increase in Maine’s shipments and an 85.0% increase in movement from North Dakota. New York’s movement is down 3.7% from last year. Production is off from last year in both Maine and New York. The heavy movement may reflect stronger pull during the summer months, rather than sustained heavy movement. Nationally, November chip potato movement fell 6.0% short of the 2019 pace. Michigan’s shipments were down 6.2% for the month. North Dakota was the only growing area east of the Rocky Mountains to post a significant increase in movement. 
US packers shipped 1.354 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending November 28, 2020. That is up from 1.329 million cwt a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 48,200 cwt of potatoes during the week ending November 28, 2020. That is up from 44,300 cwt during the same week in 2019. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 69.5% Russets, 14.3% Round White potatoes, 13.7% Yellow varieties and 2.5% Red potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A Russets in 10# bags for mostly $12.00-$13.00 per 50# bale, unchanged for the week. Wisconsin packers are selling size A Russet potatoes in 10# bags for mostly $9.00-$9.50 per 50# bale, unchanged for the week. They are selling 40-70 count Russet count cartons for $12.00-$14.00 per 50# box, also unchanged for the week. The weighted average shipping point price for new-crop Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $15.40 per cwt, unchanged from last week at the same time.
    Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5# bales of size A Yellow potatoes for mostly $18.00-$19.00 per bale, unchanged from last week.
Long Island baled 10/5# size A Round White potatoes are selling for mostly $12.00-$12.50 per 50# bale, unchanged for the week. LAST REPORT. Maine packers are selling 2 inch minimum Round White 10/5# film bags for $10.50-$11.00 per 50# bale, down from $11.00-$11.50 per bale a week ago.