Even with a regional difference of 15% less spud storage holdings in Western Canada on May 9, 2022, the four Eastern Provinces have their cultivar storage holdings 42% above the three-year average, and the overall Canadian spud storage holdings are on the upward trend with 17.9%.
Canadian (Fresh) Potato Storage Holdings by Province
Potatoes in Canada that are anticipated to be used for table consumption as of May 9, 2022, are at 345,455 mt, well above both a year ago and historical levels. NB and PEI lead the stocks increases followed by Quebec and Ontario. Given the lack of very much early planting and subsequent slow growth, this will provide ample supply to allow packers to run into late summer. Stocks of table potatoes in Western Canada are quickly diminishing.
Canadian (Processing) Potato Storage Holdings by Province
Processing Holdings on May 9, 2022, are 7% above the three-year average at 1,102m mt. Country-wide, this would be short of covering the needs of plant expansions in recent years. This month, New Brunswick has been exporting potatoes to Western Canada, as reflected in their holding reduction.
“Fryers in Western Canada will be eagerly awaiting any new crop, but floods and cool planting weather in the prairies have lowered that probability. In addition, growth in the early planted crop in the Pacific Northwestern USA has been slow and behind normal. Increased chip supply in Ontario and Quebec, should allow plants to run mostly on domestic volume into early summer,” according to the latest United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC) report.
Canadian (Seed) Potato Storage Holdings by Province
Seed Inventory on May 9, 2022, is 21% above the historical three-year averages at 294,653 mt. This is also higher than one year ago when seed supplies were much tighter. A late spring with cool planting conditions has also slowed movement out of seed storage for the time of year. Alberta and BC are the two provinces with the most rapid movement of their seed stocks.
