Growers in the storage states held 201.5 million cwt of potatoes on February 1, according to USDA reports. That is 2.3 million cwt less than those same states had in storage a year ago, a 1.1% reduction. It is 0.9% smaller than the five-year average February 1 inventory. Colorado and Wisconsin posted the largest increases, both up 1.6 million cwt from February 1, 2025. Stocks in Oregon were up 400,000 cwt. Idaho’s reported stocks matched the year-earlier inventory. On the other hand, Washington’s February 1 stocks dropped by 6.0 million cwt, relative to the previous year. Minnesota’s potato inventory fell by 800,000 cwt, while Maine’s stocks were down 700,000 cwt. North Dakota’s stocks fell by 200,000 cwt. Combined stocks in the “other states” (California, Texas, and Nebraska) exceeded the 2025 inventory by 200,000 cwt. At 70.7 million cwt, US December-January potato disappearance exceeded the 2024/25 pace by 200,000 cwt, or 0.3%.
USDA puts Michigan’s February 1 potato stocks at 8.9 million cwt. That is 600,000 cwt, or 7.2%, more than the state held a year earlier. USDA also revised Michigan’s December 1 stocks. The agency increased its estimate of the state’s December 1 potato stocks by 700,000 cwt, to 13.5 million cwt. At 4.6 million cwt, December-January disappearance exceeded year-earlier movement by 200,000 cwt, or 4.5%. Reported chip potato movement exceeded last year’s pace by 274,000 cwt, a 17.2% increase. Table potato shipments during December and January nearly matched the previous year’s movement.
US packers shipped 1.553 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending February 21, 2026. That is down from 1.701 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 55,849 cwt during the week ending February 21, 2026. That is up from 43,620 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 77.0% Russets, 17.1% Yellow potatoes, and 5.9% Round White potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A Russets in 10# bags for mostly $10.00-$11.00 per 50# bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A Russets in 5# bags for $11.00-$12.00 per 50# bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A Russet potatoes in 10# bags for $7.00-$7.50 per 50# bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling Russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $10.00 per 50# box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $9.15 per cwt, unchanged from the previous week.
Red River Valley packers are selling 10/5# bales of size A Yellow potatoes for $12.00-$14.00 per bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling 50# cartons of size A Yellow potatoes for mostly $12.00-$13.00 per 50# box, also unchanged. They are also selling size A Yellow potatoes in 2000# tote bags for mostly $16.00-$18.00 per cwt, unchanged from last week. They are selling Yellow creamers for $25.00-$30.00 per 50# carton, also unchanged.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.