Grower-shippers in November expressed optimism that 2012 will be a positive year for potato markets, and, all things considered, 2011 turned out to be a pretty good one for the potato industry, too.
Overall, for 2012, growers said they expect high demand, beneficial market conditions and no major supply or quality issues affecting crops in the near future after 2011 culminated with a late November amendment to funding law solidifying the starchy vegetable’s place on school menus.
Thus, potentially terrible news from January, in the form of a recommendation to virtually remove potatoes from school meal programs, ended with a win.
With markets already reaching monumental highs and further increases expected, grower-shippers expect a profitable 2012 with solid retail sales expectations after a 2011 that saw Congressional debate and testimony put the spotlight on the nutritional value and low cost of potatoes throughout the year.
Weather woes
Grower Dick Okray, president of Okray Family Farms Inc., Plover, Wisc., said he expects the 2011-12 potato crop should meet or exceed expectations of most.
Courtesy Rigby ProduceWorkers wrap russets in foil at the Rigby Produce packing shed in Rigby, Idaho. Value-adde d fresh potato products do not yet account for a huge portion of sales, but they continue to help raise overall consumption and increase interest in the vegetable.
Okray, whose company claims about 1,800 acres of russets and several hundred acres of other varieties, noted his crop this year was up to 15% smaller than typical for his particular area, mostly because of weather issues.
“I expect we’ll ship about 1 million cwt. this year,” Okray said, adding that he thinks prices will remain good because of consistent demand. “People seem to be cooking at home more again, and that’s good news for us.”
West of Okray, Steve Tweten at NoKota Packers Inc. in Buxton N.D. is similarly optimistic about the prospects for 2012.
Tweten said weather has been a spotty problem for the growers he knows.
“One friend only got 50% because of the heavy rains,” Tweten said.
Overall, the North Dakota potato crop was down 4,000 cwt. The 2011 crop came in at 18,095 cwt., compared to the 2010 crop of 22,000 cwt.
Tidy potato profits
Except for those growers who were hit extra hard by the weather, Tweten predicted the 2011-12 potato crop would bring a tidy profit.
In the fourth week of November, he said 50-pound sacks of B red potatoes were $17.
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