Processing contracts on Prince Edward Island have been settled with growers receiving a little more than 20 per cent increase, the April 21 issue of the North American Potato Market News (NAPM) says.
Fry contracts have also been settled in Wisconsin, where growers received just below 20 per cent. Negotiations are moving forward in Maine, New Brunswick, and North Dakota.
NAPM says storage chip potato supplies are cleaning up. Harvest is under way in the parts of Florida this week, however growers appear to be disappointed with this year’s crop.
Chip potato supplies should be adequate through the end of May, but there is concern supplies could be tight during June, the report notes. Ontario and Quebec still have large inventories, some of which could be exported to American manufacturers.
Planting is delayed in Michigan due to cold and wet weather. In parts of North Carolina temperatures fell below freezing this week which will slow crop development, the report says.
Parts of North Dakota and Minnesota received over a foot of snow last week. It delayed planting, the moisture is needed. Planting in Idaho and the Columbia Basin has resumed following last week’s snow storm. Crop development has been set back in some areas by cool temperatures and planting delays, NAPM says.
