Chip potato markets are quiet. Plants are running almost exclusively on contract potatoes.
Florida chip potato crops are in generally good condition. The Central Florida chip potato harvest usually gets underway about April 1. North Carolina growers have started planting their 2023 potato crop. Local observers indicate that potato acreage will be about the same as it was last year. North Carolina growers usually begin digging in mid-June and finish shipping by the end of July.
The U.S. exported 9.37 million pounds of potato chips (mostly product fabricated from potato flakes) during January. That is 3.06 million pounds more than year-earlier sales, a 48.5% increase.
U.S. packers shipped 1.596 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 4. That is down from 1.678 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan’s reported shipments totaled 55,500 cwt of potatoes during the week ending March 4, 2023. That is up from 54,300 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 78.7% russets, 13.8% yellow potatoes, 5.9% round white potatoes, and 1.6% red potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for mostly $16-$17 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $14.50-$15.50 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $26-$32 per 50-pound box, unchanged from last week. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $35.30 per cwt. That is down from $35.62 per cwt a week ago.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $26-$28 per cwt, down from $26-$28 per cwt a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound sacks for mostly $30, unchanged from last week. Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow new-crop potatoes for $25.95-$30.25 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.25-$46 per box, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white new-crop potatoes for $38.25-$40.95 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling round white creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.95-$50.95 per box, also unchanged.
– Report by North American Potato Market News