US: AgWest Signals Bullish Turn for Open-Market Potatoes as Contract Crop Struggles

AgWest has turned bullish on the US open-market potato outlook, even as the economics of the sector remain under pressure. According to the 16 September 2026 assessment, contract potatoes are only “weakly profitable,” while non-contract potatoes are still being grown at a loss. Nevertheless, the 12-month forecast points to rising prices, with a smaller harvest and an improving supply/demand balance expected to lift the open market. The shift marks a notable development in the Idaho story tracked yesterday — moving the focus from acreage cuts to an actual price forecast — and serves as a purchasing signal for frozen potato product (FPP) buyers across North America.