The state of Idaho, informally known as the Potato State, is experiencing a shortage of potatoes and, consequently, a rise in prices for this food product, The Western Journal reported on August 14.
Idaho is the largest producer of potatoes in the US, and the state even has a Potato Museum.
Jamie Higham, president and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission, attributed the potato shortage to a record heat wave in the summer of 2021, which caused farmers to produce fewer potatoes than usual.
“I’m not sure if you remember last June, but we had an incredible heat wave here in Idaho,” Higham said. “It affected our potato crop. So our yields dropped significantly last year.”
Higham went on to explain that the current shortage of potatoes on store shelves is the result of last year’s low crop, combined with the fact that this year’s crop has yet to be harvested.
Join the discussion in the Telegram channel
IA Krasnaya Vesna about agriculture
He stated that there is no shortage of vegetables, as the market regulates supply and demand by increasing prices. Currently, more expensive potatoes are a reality, he said, but prices will come down over time. A significant price reduction should be expected only at the beginning of the new financial year, that is, in October.
He noted that the potato harvest in the state will only begin this week (in the US, the week starts on Sunday). However, it will take time for farmers to reach full harvesting capacity and substantial deliveries to stores and the beginning of price reductions can be expected in early September.
This year’s potato harvest is expected to be an order of magnitude higher in Idaho than last year, largely due to less heatwaves. Unless, of course, no emergency interferes with the harvest.
“Based on the test digs we’ve done and the overall improvement in the weather, we’re optimistic that we’ll have a much better harvest,” Sean Boyle, president of the Idaho Growers and Shippers Association, told MagicValley.com.
