Chip potato movement has been steady. Plants continue to run almost exclusively on contract potatoes. Michigan growers have shipped 2.66 million cwt of chip potatoes since Aug. 1 compared to 3.14 million cwt during the same 16-week period in 2023. That is 478,000 cwt, or 15.2%, less than year-earlier movement. On the other hand, chip potato movement from Wisconsin is up 17.5% from last year’s pace, at 2.19 million cwt. Quality and storability issues are likely behind the increase in Wisconsin’s early-season movement. Reported chip potato shipments from New York are down 10.6%, while shipments from Maine are up 1.9%. US chip potato shipments totaled 15.30 million cwt during the period. That is 1.09 million cwt, or 6.7% below year-earlier movement.
Thanksgiving table potato movement has been strong. Thanksgiving is five days later this year than it was last year. U.S. packers shipped 2.185 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Nov. 16. That is down from 2.244 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 94,621 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Nov. 16. That is down from 112,545 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 91.6% russets, 7.8% round whites, 0.5% yellow potatoes, and 0.1% red potatoes.
The USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $10-$11 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $11-$12 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for $9-$10 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $13-$15 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $16.94 per cwt, unchanged from last week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $14-$16 per bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $14-$16 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $19 per cwt, unchanged from a week ago.
Report by North American Potato Market News