Weekly Potato Report
October 8, 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
Markets
for open chip potatoes are quiet, as growers concentrate on getting this year's
crop under cover. Our sources report sales of open chip potatoes at field
delivery contract prices, in both Michigan and New York. While some growers may
come up short on contract volume, others appear to have more than they can
store comfortably. Chippers who have finished taking field delivery contracts
have so far managed to cover needs with open supplies. We are not seeing any
early deliveries on storage contracts, at this time.
Canada's
2008 potato crop is a mixed bag. The worst problems appear to be on PEI, where
wet summer weather resulted in a lot of water soak, as well as late blight
pressure. Reports suggest that 5-10% of the PEI crop will be abandoned. Industry
experts fear that potatoes going into storage will not hold well, due to tuber
blight and other water-related problems. Crops seem to get progressively
better, moving from east to west. Quebec is reporting average yields. However,
solids are extremely high in Quebec. That is resulting in bruise damage and
high defect levels on chip potatoes. Ontario may have its best yield since
1994. Though Ontario acreage is down from last year, production will exceed the
province's 2007 crop by over 2 million cwt.
Economic
meltdown is on the minds of all players in the potato industry. Though
consumers pulled back on travel this summer, demand for potatoes and potato
products, including potato chips, held up well. Now, our sources indicate that
chip production has slowed in recent weeks. That may only reflect the normal
down turn at the end of the summer. However, everyone is concerned that
consumer demand will fall off, due to the recent financial uncertainties.
USDA
has stopped quoting prices for Onaways, and indicates that there are not yet
enough sales of storage Round White potatoes to establish a market for
Michigan. Long Island shippers are selling 50# bags of size A Round White
potatoes for mostly $11.00 per bag, unchanged from last week. Long Island chefs
are selling for $13.00 per 50# bag, also unchanged for the week.
Wisconsin
is selling Russet non-size A potatoes in 10# bags for
mostly $10.50 per 50# bale, down from $11.00-11.50 last week at this time.
Wisconsin 50-70 count cartons are selling for $15.00-$17.00 per 50# box, down
from $16.00-$17.00 a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for
Idaho Russet Burbanks dropped to $24.29 per cwt, from
$25.38 at this time last week.
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.
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