Market Report September 20, 2023

North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) expects Canadian growers to produce 126.5 million cwt of potatoes in 2023. That is 3.6 million cwt more than the country produced during 2022, a 2.9% increase. The Prairie Provinces and British Columbia have experienced dry but mostly favorable weather during August and early September. On the other hand, the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, and Ontario have received too much rain and not enough sunshine. Hurricane Lee brought additional rain to the region (including Maine) over the weekend. Combined production in Ontario and Quebec is forecast to fall 1.9 million cwt short of the 2022 crop, an 8.3% decline. At least part of the reduction will be chip potatoes. Storage issues also could limit supplies. Chip potato supplies in the PEI could be sufficient for local processing needs. Supplies could be tight in New Brunswick.

Harvest conditions have been mostly favorable in Michigan this week. The weather has been a little warm, but temperatures are expected to cool off a little. There is a chance of rain today. The rest of the week looks good for harvesting potatoes.

U.S. packers shipped 1.672 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Sept. 16. That nearly matches the 1.675 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 38,000 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Sept. 16. That is down from 62,700 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 100% russets.

Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $12-$13 per 50-pound bale, down from $13-$14 per 50-pound bale last week. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $15-$18 per 50-pound box, down from $16-$22 per 50-pound box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $20.45 per cwt, down from $21.24 per cwt last week.

Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16-$17 per bale, down from $16-$18 per bale a week ago. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16-$17 per 50-pound box, down from $16-$17.50 per 50-pound box last week.

– Report by North American Potato Market News