Reported U.S. chip potato movement during the four weeks in December totaled 3.01 million cwt. That is 1.07 million cwt less than the industry shipped a year earlier, a 26.2% reduction. At 585,000 cwt, Michigan’s December shipments fell 19.8% short of 2024 movement. Wisconsin shipped 684,000 cwt during the period, down 12.5% from a year earlier. Shipments from the West Coast region and the Rocky Mountain region fell by 30.2% and 15.5%, respectively. Reported chip potato movement from the Red River Valley dropped by 40.9%, and reported shipments from the Mid-Central region were down 49.7%. Chip potato supplies are plentiful. Chip companies continue to run exclusively on contract potatoes.
The Potato Expo started today in Dallas. It is the largest Expo as far as vendors, and it is the second or third largest in attendance. Growers across North America and across industry sectors are concerned about current market conditions, demand for potatoes and potato products, and the overall health of the agricultural economy.
U.S. packers shipped 1.42 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Jan. 3, 2026. That is up from 1.39 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 49,246 cwt during the week ending Jan. 3, 2026. That is down from 68,974 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 85.6% russets, 8.9% yellow potatoes. and 5.5% 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 $10-$11 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $10.18 per cwt, unchanged from 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.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.