Market conditions for potatoes in the US were running above year-ago levels in late October and early November, according to a report by Tom Karst for The Packer.
He reports that 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 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.
