Chip potato business is quiet and steady. Storage supplies remain plentiful. Florida’s shipments are picking up. Reports indicate that chip potato crops are in good condition in Florida and the Carolinas. In Michigan, planting is moving forward on schedule. There is very little demand for early potatoes, so growers are not in a hurry.
The U.S. exported 6.48 million cwt of potatoes and potato products (raw product equivalent) during March. That is 1.3% less than year-earlier exports. Increases in fresh potato and frozen product exports were offset by reductions in dehydrated product and potato chip sales. Frozen product exports jumped 10.4% above March 2023 movement. Fresh potato exports increased by 4.6%. In contrast, dehydrated product exports dropped by 20.7%, while potato chip sales fell by 11.0%, relative to March 2023 exports.
U.S. packers shipped 1.629 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending May 4. That is up from 1.463 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 43,574 cwt of potatoes during the week ending May 4. That is down from 60,979 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 95.3% russets, 2.1% round white potatoes, 2.0% red potatoes, and 0.6% yellow potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A Russets in 10-pound bags for $9-$13.75 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $10-$14.75 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $8-$9 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. 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 $10.96 per cwt, down from $11.39 per cwt last week.
Florida packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 5-pound film bags for mostly $21.95-$25.95 per 50-pound bale, down from $25.95-$28.25 per 50-pound bale last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $20.95-$24.95 per box, down from $24.95-$26.25 per box a week ago. Florida packers are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $35.95-$40.95 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $36.90-$40.90 per cwt, down from $40-$44 per cwt a week ago.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white potatoes for $24.95-$28.95 per box, down from $35.25-$35.95 per box last week.
− Report by North American Potato Market News