Growers across the United States are nearly finished planting the 2026 potato crop. Planting is moving forward in Michigan where temperatures have been well below average during the past two weeks. Growers in the central sands region of Wisconsin finished planting last week. That state has experienced extremely variable spring weather. Growers in the Red River Valley are just getting started. In the San Luis Valley, growers are nearly finished planting. Most of Idaho’s potato crop is in the ground, with only a few seed growers still in the fields. Idaho’s weather has been favorable. Growers in the Columbia Basin have also finished planting. Early potatoes in the PNW are off to an excellent start, due to ideal growing conditions.
US chip potato shipments, during the five weeks in April, fell 175,000 cwt below 2025 movement. At 4.627 million cwt, that is 3.6% less than the industry shipped during the same period last year. April shipments were down 8.8%, relative to the three-year average. Strong movement from the Rocky Mountain region (+154,000 cwt) and Michigan (+96,000 cwt) were the largest factors in this year’s increase. The Southwest region (+70,000 cwt) and the Red River Valley (+27,000 cwt) also posted increased movement during the month. On the other hand, April chip potato shipments from the Mid-Central region (-105,000 cwt), New York (-96,000 cwt), Maine (-85,000 cwt), the Midwest region (-78,000 cwt), Florida (-67,000 cwt), Wisconsin (-54,000 cwt), and the West Coast region (-40,000 cwt) fell below the 2025 pace. US reported chip potato shipments for the season (August-April), total 34.713 million cwt. That is 3.250 million cwt, or 8.6%, less than year-earlier shipments.
US packers shipped 1.577 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending May 9, 2026. That is down from 1.634 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 48,899 cwt during the week ending May 9, 2026. That is up from 30,600 cwt shipped during the same week in 2025. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 76.8% Russets, 12.8% Round White potatoes, and 10.4% Yellow 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 mostly $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 $8.29 per cwt, unchanged from the previous week.
Florida packers are selling 50# cartons of size A Yellow potatoes for $23.00-$29.95 per 50# box, unchanged from a week ago. They are also selling size A Yellow potatoes in 2000# tote bags for $40.00-$43.00 per cwt, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling Yellow creamers for $35.95-$41.00 per 50# carton, unchanged from last week.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission