While the western part of the country has had nearly ideal growing conditions, several eastern growing regions have experienced excessive heat and rain during the past month. Chip potato demand has been steady to a little soft. Harvest has been pushed back in some areas. Those factors have caused some quality issues for early potatoes. The heat also could lead to quality problems for the storage crop.
Michigan’s chip potato harvest is just getting underway. More growers will begin digging within the next two weeks. Michigan’s potato crop is in good condition.
Chip potato shipments from Florida, the Carolinas, and Missouri are winding down. Harvest is underway in Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Washington. Reports indicate that Wisconsin shipped 177,000 cwt of new-crop chip potatoes last week, compared to 15,000 cwt during the same week a year ago.
Stats Canada reports that Canadian growers planted a total of 394,215 acres of potatoes in 2025. That is only 262 acres less than they planted last year; however, there were major shifts in acreage between provinces. In the Maritime Provinces, growers in PEI planted 2,000 more acres of potatoes, while growers in New Brunswick reduced their planted area by 900 acres. Growers in Quebec and Ontario increased their planted area by 4,656 acres and 977 acres, respectively. In the Prairie provinces, Alberta growers planted 3,500 more acres of potatoes to meet the needs of the province’s growing processing sector. On the other hand, Manitoba’s planted area dropped by 10,400 acres, due to reduced contracts for frozen processing potatoes. Saskatchewan’s potato area fell by 200 acres, while British Columbia’s planted area increased by 100 acres. Growers across Canada were able to plant the 2025 potato crop on schedule, due to mostly favorable weather. Overall, reports indicate that crops are in good condition.
U.S. packers shipped 1.528 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending July 19. That is down from 1.611 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 43,974 cwt during the week ending July 19. That is down from 52,250 cwt shipped during the same week in 2024. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 92.8% russets, round white potatoes, and 3.1% yellow potatoes.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $10.50-$11 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for $17.50-$20 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Burbanks is $16.05 per cwt, up from $15.20 per cwt the previous week.
Virginia packers are selling 50-pound sacks of size A yellow potatoes for $18.50 per sack, down from $19.50 per sack a week ago. They are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $34 per cwt, down from $36 per cwt last week.
Virginia packers are selling 50-pound sacks of size A round white potatoes for $16.50-$17.50 per sack, down from $17.50 per sack a week ago. They are selling 50-pound sacks of round white chef potatoes for $23.50 per sack, unchanged from last week. Virginia packers also are selling size A round white potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $30-$32 per cwt, down from $32 per cwt last week.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.