Weekly Potato Report
September 24, 2008
January 7-9, 2009 – Potato Expo, San Antonio, TX
February 11-12, 2009 – Winter Potato Conference and MSU Variety Day, Comfort
Inn Suites, Mt. Pleasant
Harvest momentum is picking up. Michigan growers are hoping that yields
on later fields will make up for disappointing yields on the first third of the
crop. Growers are reporting issues with water rot in some varieties, on the low
spots of fields affected by heavy rains earlier this month. Overall, the
Michigan crop appears to be in good condition. Most chip plants continue to run
on field delivery contracts, though some contracts have been cleaned up. Our
sources indicate limited sales of open Michigan potatoes at $13.00-$14.00 per
cwt. However, buyers seem to be finding cheaper potatoes in New York and
Illinois.
Chip plants are hoping that they can avoid dipping into storage
contracts ahead of schedule. While some areas will have open potatoes for sale
at harvest, rapid usage of field delivery contracts makes it unlikely that the
industry can get through the next three weeks without starting to pull from the
storage contracts. Yields on late-harvested potatoes will need to improve
dramatically for the industry to have enough storage potatoes to run most US
chip plants through April.
Michigan dealers are selling Round White potatoes for $2.00-$2.15 per
10# bag. That is down from $2.20-$2.25 per bag two weeks ago. (No prices are
available for last week, due to rain-induced harvest delays). Long Island
shippers are selling 50# bags of size A Round White potatoes for $11.00-$12.00
per bag, unchanged from the previous week. Long Island chefs are selling for
$13.00-$14.00 per 50# bag..
Wisconsin is selling Russet non-size A
potatoes in 10# bags for $11.00-11.50 per 50# bale, unchanged from last week at
this time. Wisconsin 50-70 count cartons slipped to $19.00-$20.00 per 50# box,
from $20.00-$21.00 a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for
Idaho Norkotahs dropped to $27.09 per cwt, from
$30.07 at this time last week. Though Idaho prices are coming down, it is
important to put the numbers in perspective. The September average for Idaho
Russet prices is on course to exceed the previous record by more than 80%.
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