Weekly Potato Report
March 12, 2008
Chip
buyers continue to pay $9.50 per cwt for limited supplies of open Michigan
potatoes. Growers across the US indicate that supplies of storage chip potatoes
are limited. They should clean up on time, or slightly ahead of schedule. Some
chip plants have storage potatoes on contract through the middle of June, but
may not be able to stay on storage potatoes for that long.
Central
Florida growers indicate that they will start harvest about March 30. They
indicate that the crop is in good condition, but that some potatoes will need
time to reach their full yield potential. Growers planted fewer potatoes this
year, because of reduced contract volumes. Chippers will need to get all of the
potatoes that they can from Florida, in order to keep operations running
smoothly. That may mean stretching the Florida harvest out, until potatoes from
North Carolina are ready to dig. Weather has slowed crop development along the
Atlantic Seaboard. Therefore, growers in Northern production areas may not want
to get in a hurry to plant this year's crop. Early potatoes may mature while
chippers are still concentrating on harvesting crops from other areas.
Canada
reports that its March 1 potato stocks totaled 51.6 million cwt. That is down
6.4 million cwt, or 11.0%, from year-earlier holdings. While changes in data
collection methodology make direct comparisons with last year questionable,
there is no doubt that the Canadian crop is cleaning up more quickly than it
did in 2007. That is particularly true for Ontario, where stocks are down to
1.74 million cwt, from 2.62 million cwt on March 1, 2007. Ontario chip growers
have 606,000 cwt fewer chip potatoes in storage than they did a year ago at
this time.
In
the fresh market, Michigan shippers are selling storage Round White potatoes
for $1.25-$1.60 per 10# bag, up from $1.25-$1.30 last week. Maine growers are
selling 2 inch minimum Round Whites for mostly $1.10-$1.20 per 10 # bag, up
from $1.05-$1.10 last week. Florida packers are selling 2008-crop size A Round White potatoes for mostly $22.05 per 50# carton, up
$0.05 for the week.
Size
A Michigan Russets are selling for mostly $1.50-$1.60
per 10# bag, unchanged from last week. Wisconsin shippers are receiving mostly
$6.50-$7.00 per 50# bale for non Size A Russet
potatoes, unchanged from last week. Wisconsin prices for 60-70 count cartons
are $10.00-$11.00 per box, also unchanged for the week. The weighted average
shipping point price for Idaho Russet Burbanks fell
to $14.19 per cwt, from $14.47 a week ago.
This
weekly newsletter has more complete potato market information. For subscription
information call (208) 525-8397, fax (208) 525-8569, write PO Box 135, Shelley
ID 83274, or e-mail napmn@napmn.com.
This
Weekly Potato Report includes current Michigan grower issues, in depth market
news, and other time sensitive information. This report contains market
sensitive information and your candor in using this information is
appreciated. Your comments and
suggestions are vital to improving this report and other services.
If
you would like to receive this report either by E-mail or Fax, please call the