Potato market conditions elevated compared with a year ago
Market conditions for potatoes were running above year-ago levels in late October and early November.
The top shipping states for potatoes in late October, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, were Idaho, Colorado, Wisconsin, and the Columbia Basin of Washington and Oregon.
With yields down from a year ago, shipping point prices for Idaho potatoes in 70 count 50-pound cartons of russet norkotahs were $15 in late October, up from $9-10 per carton of 70s the same time a year ago.
Dick Thomas, senior vice president of sales for Potandon Produce, Idaho Falls, Idaho, reported a very firm market for potatoes in early November, with supplies shorter than normal because of lower yields this season.
The average price for Colorado russet norkotahs was $14.50-16 per 50-pound carton of 70s, up from $12-13 per carton the same week a year ago
Overall domestic truck shipments of potatoes totaled 1,663 (100,000-pound) units the week of Oct. 24, down 1.5% from 1,688 units the same week a year ago.
Idaho accounted for 35% of U.S. truck shipments of potatoes the week of Oct. 24, compared with about 39% the same week last year.
Colorado accounted for 19% of domestic truck volume of potatoes for the week of Oct. 24, up from 17% the same week a year ago.
Wisconsin accounted for 12.2% of domestic truck potato shipments the week of Oct. 24, up from 9.8% a year ago. Finally, Washington accounted for 4.5% of domestic truck shipments, down from 4.8% a year ago.
The USDA’s Market News Service survey of over 30,000 retail stores had 14,494 ads for potatoes in the last week of October, down from 18,117 the same week a year ago.
Top Weeks for Retail Potato Promotions for 2020
Date and Stores with potato ads
- 11/20/2020: 46,706
- 12/18/2020: 44,276
- 3/13/2020: 39,796
- 2/7/2020: 38,512
- 11/27/2020: 37,114
- 10/23/2020: 36,234
- 10/9/2020: 35,610
- 11/13/2020: 34,348
- 12/11/2020: 33,388
Source: USDA
