The chip potato business is quiet. Storage supplies are plentiful. Movement has been steady. Chip potato shipments from Florida started two weeks ago. Growers plan to start digging in the central part of the state next week. Rain has slowed planting progress in North Carolina.
U.S. packers shipped 1.839 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 23. That is up from 1.648 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan’s fresh potato sales have been strong ahead of the Easter holiday. The state’s packers shipped 101,910 cwt of potatoes during the week ending March 23. That is up from 77,375 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 65.4% russets, 26.9% yellow potatoes, 7.3% round white potatoes, and .04% red potatoes.
The USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $9-$13.75 per 50-pound bale, down from $10-$14.75 per 50-pound bale last week. They are selling size A Russets in 5-pound bags for $10-$14.75 per 50-pound bale, down from $11-$15.75 per 50-pound bale a week ago. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $8-$9 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $10-$12 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $13.18 per cwt, unchanged from last week.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $21-$22 per cwt, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for mostly $30 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 5-pound film bags for $21.95-$28.25 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $20.95-$28.25 per box, also unchanged. Florida packers are also selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $35.95-$40.25 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $36.90-$38.90 per cwt, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white new-crop potatoes for $35.25-$38.95 per box, unchanged from last week.
− Report by North American Potato Market News