North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) expects Canadian growers to produce 122.2 million cwt of potatoes in 2025. That is 6.0 million cwt, or 4.7%, less than the country produced during 2024. Growing conditions across Canada have been mixed during the past month. PEI and parts of New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario did not receive the rain needed to finish this year’s potato crop.
On the other hand, the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia have experienced mostly favorable growing conditions. Chip potato supplies are expected to be down in Ontario and Quebec. Though NAPMN does not have the exact split between potatoes for each sector, total combined production in those provinces could be down 4.7%. Supplies also could be tight in PEI and New Brunswick.
Canada’s table potato supplies will be down this year. Combined production the four major table potato producing provinces could be down 8.9% or more. Table potato production in the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia could increase. U.S. demand for Canadian table potatoes could decrease, due to the large U.S. potato crop, and extremely low prices.
Chip potato supplies appear to be balanced with demand. There has been a limited amount of open-market activity. Growers in Michigan have started storing chip potatoes. The state experienced about 10 days of cool weather during the first part of the month, which was ideal for harvesting. Since then, temperatures have warmed up. Crops could use some rain to improve harvest conditions and prevent pressure bruise problems in storage. Reports indicate that Michigan’s early chip potato yields have been average, but solids have been below average. Michigan weather forecasts show temperatures in the mid-80s for the next five days, with partly sunny skies.
U.S. packers shipped 1.594 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Sept. 13. That is down from 1.875 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 33,763 cwt during the week ending Sept. 13. That is down from 45,247 cwt shipped during the same week in 2024. Last week’s reported Michigan shipments were 92.0% russets, 4.7% red potatoes, and 3.3% yellow potatoes.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $9 per 50-pound bale, down from $9-$9.50 per 50-pound bale last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $16 per 50-pound box, down from $16-$18 per 50-pound box a week ago. The weighted average shipping-point price for new-crop Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $13.48 per cwt, up from $13.39 per cwt the previous week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for $14-$17 per bale, unchanged from last week. They are also selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $14-$17 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size B yellow potatoes for mostly $11 per 50-pound box, unchanged from a week ago.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A red potatoes for $13-$14 per bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A red potatoes for $11-$13.50 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Big Lake and Central Minnesota packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A red potatoes for mostly $12 per bale, up from $11-$12 per bale a week ago. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A red potatoes for mostly $12 per 50-pound box, up from $11.50-$12 per bale last week. They are selling 2,000-pound tote bags of size A red potatoes for mostly $16 per cwt, up from $15-$16 per cwt a week ago.
– This report was compiled by North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) for the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.