April 16, 2008

**2008 SPRING PRODUCTION**

**[Florida]{.smallcaps}**

**[Florida:]{.smallcaps}** Winter potatoes were combined with spring
potatoes for the 2007-08 crop.

**[Weather]{.smallcaps}**: Mostly mild weather during December 2007 and
January 2008 helped planting to stay on schedule and aided crop
development. Dry weather throughout the months of January to March kept
planting on schedule around Hastings and in the northern Peninsula.
Potato digging is expected to begin by mid to late April in the Hastings
area and it is underway in the other spring potato areas.

**[Spring]{.smallcaps}**: Producers planted 28,500 acres, up 700 acres
from the 27,800 winter and spring acres planted in 2007. Acreage for
harvest was set at 27,900 acres, up 700 acres from the combined winter
and spring acres harvested a year ago. Yield is expected to average 290
cwt per acre, up 3 cwt from the previous year. The combined winter and
spring production is anticipated to total 8,091,000 cwt, up four percent
or 284,000 cwt from the 2007 combined production. Growers in the
Hastings area planted 17,300 acres and hope to dig 17,000 acres compared
with 16,500 acres planted and 16,200 acres dug in 2007. The Hastings
area yield is expected to average 290 cwt per acre, up 5 cwt or 2
percent from the 285 per acre averaged in 2007. The Hastings production
is set at 4,930,000 cwt or 7 percent more than the 4,617,000 cwt dug
last year. The combined winter and spring production from other areas is
expected to total 3,161,000 cwt, down 29,000 cwt or 1 percent from the
3,190,000 cwt dug a year ago.

**[United States]{.smallcaps}**

**[Winter Potatoes]{.smallcaps}:** Production for 2008 is estimated at
2.64 million cwt, 4 percent below the January forecast but 7 percent
above last year. Area harvested in California was 11,000 acres,
unchanged from January but down 4 percent from a year ago. The average
yield of 240 cwt per acre is down 10 cwt from January but 25 cwt above
2007. Demand for winter potatoes remained strong as harvest wound down.

**[Spring]{.smallcaps}**: Spring production for 2008 is forecast at 19.9
million cwt, down 4 percent from 2007 but 1 percent above 2006. Area for
harvest is forecast at 67,200 acres, down 5 percent from last year. The
average yield is forecast at 297 cwt per acre, 3 cwt above 2007.
California spring production is forecast at 5.52 million cwt, down 10
percent from last year. Growers reported favorable growing conditions
and expect to begin harvest by late April. Although yields have
increased, harvested acres are expected to be 14 percent below last
year. North Carolina\'s potato crop is forecast at 2.80 million cwt, up
4 percent from last year. Crop condition was rated at 65 percent good to
excellent with 82 percent of the crop planted as of March 30. Production
in Texas is forecast at 2.47 million cwt, down 16 percent from 2007.
Acreage was down due to labor shortages and increases in operating
costs. Arizona growers expect production to total 1.05 million cwt, down
6 percent from last year.

**[Summer Potatoes, 2007 Revisions:]{.smallcaps}** The final estimate of
2007 summer potato crop production is 17.0 million cwt, up 1 percent
from the preliminary estimate in the January Crop Production 2007
Summary but down 6 percent from the 2006 crop. Harvested area covered
51,300 acres, up 2 percent from the 2007 preliminary estimate but down 5
percent from 2006. The average yield of 332 cwt per acre is down 3 cwt
from the 2007 preliminary estimate and 5 cwt below the 2006 crop.

<table>
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 16%" />
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="header">
<th colspan="10"><strong>POTATOES</strong></th>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<th rowspan="3"><p>Seasonal</p>
<p>Group</p>
<p>and State</p></th>
<th colspan="4">Area</th>
<th colspan="2" rowspan="2"><p>Yield</p>
<p>per acre</p></th>
<th colspan="3" rowspan="2">Production</th>
</tr>
<tr class="header">
<th colspan="2">Planted</th>
<th colspan="2">Harvested</th>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<th>2007</th>
<th><p>Indicated</p>
<p>2008</p></th>
<th>2007</th>
<th><p>Indicated</p>
<p>2008</p></th>
<th>2007</th>
<th><p>Indicated</p>
<p>2008</p></th>
<th>2006</th>
<th>2007</th>
<th><p>Indicated</p>
<p>2008</p></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td></td>
<td colspan="4"><em>1,000 acres</em></td>
<td colspan="2"><em>Cwt</em></td>
<td colspan="3"><em>1,000 cwt</em></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="10">Winter</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>California</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>11.5</td>
<td>11.0</td>
<td>11.5</td>
<td>11.0</td>
<td>215</td>
<td>240</td>
<td>3,120</td>
<td>2,473</td>
<td>2,640</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Florida <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>1,375</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Total</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>11.5</td>
<td>11.0</td>
<td>11.5</td>
<td>11.0</td>
<td>215</td>
<td>240</td>
<td>4,495</td>
<td>2,473</td>
<td>2,640</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="10">Spring</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Arizona</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>4.0</td>
<td>3.5</td>
<td>4.0</td>
<td>3.5</td>
<td>280</td>
<td>300</td>
<td>1,170</td>
<td>1,120</td>
<td>1,050</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>California</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>15.5</td>
<td>13.3</td>
<td>15.5</td>
<td>13.3</td>
<td>395</td>
<td>415</td>
<td>6,044</td>
<td>6,123</td>
<td>5,520</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Florida</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>27.8</td>
<td>28.5</td>
<td>27.2</td>
<td>27.9</td>
<td>287</td>
<td>290</td>
<td>6,441</td>
<td>7,807</td>
<td>8,091</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Hastings</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>16.5</td>
<td>17.3</td>
<td>16.2</td>
<td>17.0</td>
<td>285</td>
<td>290</td>
<td>4,731</td>
<td>4,617</td>
<td>4,930</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Other</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>11.3</td>
<td>11.2</td>
<td>11.0</td>
<td>10.9</td>
<td>290</td>
<td>290</td>
<td>1,710</td>
<td>3,190</td>
<td>3,161</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>North Carolina</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>16.0</td>
<td>15.0</td>
<td>14.5</td>
<td>14.0</td>
<td>186</td>
<td>200</td>
<td>3,255</td>
<td>2,700</td>
<td>2,800</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Texas</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>9.7</td>
<td>8.9</td>
<td>9.2</td>
<td>8.5</td>
<td>320</td>
<td>290</td>
<td>2,856</td>
<td>2,944</td>
<td>2,465</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Total</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>73.0</td>
<td>69.2</td>
<td>70.4</td>
<td>67.2</td>
<td>294</td>
<td>297</td>
<td>19,766</td>
<td>20,694</td>
<td>19,926</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="10"><sup>1/</sup> Winter potatoes combined with spring
potatoes in 2007-08</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

**April Potato Stocks up 8 Percent from Last Year**

The 13 major potato States held 130 million cwt of potatoes in storage
April 1, 2008, up 8 percent from a year ago and 12 percent above April
1, 2006. Potatoes in storage accounted for 33 percent of the 2007 fall
storage States\' production, up 2 percentage points from last year.
Klamath Basin stocks totaled 1.15 million cwt on April 1, 2008, down 18
percent from last year. Klamath Basin stocks include potatoes stored in
California and Klamath County, Oregon.

Disappearance from the start of harvest to April 1 was at 270 million
cwt, 1 percent above last year and up 4 percent from 2006. Shrink and
loss, at 21.6 million cwt, was down 3 percent from the same period in
2007 but up 7 percent from 2006.

Processors have used 144 million cwt of 2007 crop potatoes so far this
season, down 1 percent from last year\'s season-to-date usage but up 9
percent from 2 years ago. Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon total
processing decreased 2 percent from a year ago and Maine\'s total
processing was 5 percent below 2007. Washington and the rest of Oregon
total processing was 3 percent higher than last season. Dehydrating
usage accounted for 29.3 million cwt of the total processing, down 9
percent from last year but 10 percent above the same period in 2006.

Western States held 99.2 million cwt of potatoes in storage on April 1,
up 14 percent from a year ago and 12 percent above 2006. Idaho\'s potato
stocks were up 10 percent from last year; Washington\'s potato stocks
were 40 percent above last year; and Oregon\'s stocks increased 14
percent from April 1, 2007. California\'s potato stocks decreased 25
percent from 2007, while Colorado\'s and Montana\'s stocks were both
down 17 percent from a year ago.

Central States accounted for 24.4 million cwt of all potato stocks on
April 1, down 5 percent from a year ago but 20 percent above the same
date in 2006. Wisconsin\'s potato stocks were down 5 percent from last
year; North Dakota\'s stocks were 24 percent below 2007; and potato
stocks in Nebraska were down 13 percent from the previous season.
Minnesota\'s stocks increased 5 percent from the same date in 2007 and
Michigan\'s potato stocks were 61 percent higher than a year ago.

Eastern States stored 6.50 million cwt of potatoes on April 1, down 21
percent from a year earlier and 7 percent below April 1, 2006. Maines\'s
potato stocks were 19 percent lower than last year and New York\'s
potato stocks decreased 40 percent from a year ago.

<table style="width:100%;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 20%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="10"><strong>POTATOES</strong>: Quantity used for
processing, nine States, 2005-2007<sup>1/</sup></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>State</td>
<td><p>Crop</p>
<p>year</p></td>
<td><p>To</p>
<p>Dec 1</p></td>
<td><p>To</p>
<p>Jan 1</p></td>
<td><p>To</p>
<p>Feb 1</p></td>
<td><p>To</p>
<p>Mar 1</p></td>
<td><p>To</p>
<p>Apr 1</p></td>
<td><p>To</p>
<p>May 1</p></td>
<td><p>To</p>
<p>Jun 1</p></td>
<td><p>Entire</p>
<p>season</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2"> </td>
<td colspan="8"><em>1,000 cwt</em></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td rowspan="3"><p>Idaho &amp; Malheur</p>
<p>County, Oregon</p></td>
<td>2005</td>
<td>22,840</td>
<td>29,300</td>
<td>35,970</td>
<td>43,300</td>
<td>50,820</td>
<td>57,830</td>
<td>65,030</td>
<td>77,360</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>2006</td>
<td>27,090</td>
<td>34,070</td>
<td>41,350</td>
<td>48,940</td>
<td>56,650</td>
<td>63,680</td>
<td>71,220</td>
<td>85,630</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>2007</td>
<td>26,230</td>
<td>33,260</td>
<td>40,220</td>
<td>48,570</td>
<td>55,480</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td rowspan="3"> Maine <sup>2/</sup></td>
<td>2005</td>
<td>1,365</td>
<td>1,880</td>
<td>2,485</td>
<td>3,090</td>
<td>3,800</td>
<td>4,450</td>
<td>5,130</td>
<td>6,825</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>2006</td>
<td>1,755</td>
<td>2,360</td>
<td>2,910</td>
<td>3,465</td>
<td>4,185</td>
<td>4,810</td>
<td>5,470</td>
<td>7,560</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>2007</td>
<td>1,700</td>
<td>2,170</td>
<td>2,815</td>
<td>3440</td>
<td>3,985</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td rowspan="3"><p>Washington and Other</p>
<p>   areas, Oregon</p></td>
<td>2005</td>
<td>30,310</td>
<td>35,895</td>
<td>40,545</td>
<td>48,290</td>
<td>55,320</td>
<td>61,885</td>
<td>69,360</td>
<td>78,550</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>2006</td>
<td>30,980</td>
<td>37,060</td>
<td>42,190</td>
<td>49,930</td>
<td>56,690</td>
<td>63,170</td>
<td>70,410</td>
<td>77,355</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>2007</td>
<td>28,995</td>
<td>34,675</td>
<td>39,700</td>
<td>47,390</td>
<td>58,185</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td rowspan="3">Other States <sup>3/</sup></td>
<td>2005</td>
<td>11,055</td>
<td>14,070</td>
<td>17,005</td>
<td>19,895</td>
<td>22,520</td>
<td>25,270</td>
<td>27,740</td>
<td>35,535</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>2006</td>
<td>14,270</td>
<td>17,695</td>
<td>21,290</td>
<td>24,545</td>
<td>28,040</td>
<td>31,370</td>
<td>34,830</td>
<td>43,315</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>2007</td>
<td>15,470</td>
<td>17,560</td>
<td>20,890</td>
<td>23,955</td>
<td>26,605</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td rowspan="3">Total</td>
<td>2005</td>
<td>65,570</td>
<td>81,145</td>
<td>96,005</td>
<td>114,575</td>
<td>132,460</td>
<td>149,405</td>
<td>167,260</td>
<td>198,270</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>2006</td>
<td>74,095</td>
<td>91,185</td>
<td>107,740</td>
<td>126,880</td>
<td>145,565</td>
<td>163,030</td>
<td>181,930</td>
<td>213,860</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>2007</td>
<td>71,965</td>
<td>87,665</td>
<td>103,625</td>
<td>123,355</td>
<td>144,255</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td rowspan="3">Dehydrated <sup>4/</sup></td>
<td>2005</td>
<td>11,920</td>
<td>15,655</td>
<td>19,225</td>
<td>22,765</td>
<td>26,605</td>
<td>30,065</td>
<td>34130</td>
<td>41,625</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>2006</td>
<td>14,590</td>
<td>19,250</td>
<td>23,635</td>
<td>27,885</td>
<td>32,210</td>
<td>36,480</td>
<td>40,915</td>
<td>49,370</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>2007</td>
<td>12,660</td>
<td>16,680</td>
<td>20,965</td>
<td>25,185</td>
<td>29,300</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

^1/^ Total quantity received and used for processing regardless of the
State in which the potatoes were produced. Amount excludes quantities
used for potato chips in ME and WI.

^2/^ Includes Maine grown potatoes only.

^3/^ CO, MN, NV, ND, and WI.

^4/^ Dehydrated products except starch and flour. Included in above
totals. Includes CO, ID, NV, ND, OR, WA, and WI.

+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| **F |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| ALL |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| PO  |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| TAT |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| OES |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| **: |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| P   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| rod |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| uct |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| ion |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| and |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| S   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| toc |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| ks, |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 13  |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| Ma  |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| jor |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| S   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| tat |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| es, |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 998 |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| t   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| hro |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| ugh |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 2   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 007 |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| C   | Pr   | Dec  | Jan 1 | Feb  | Mar 1  | Apr 1 | May  | Jun  |
| rop | oduc | 1    |       | 1    |        |       | 1    | 1    |
|     | tion |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| Y   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| ear |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
|     | *1   |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
|     | ,000 |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
|     | Cwt* |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 1   | 423  | 280  | 24    | 209  | 1      | 13    | 87   | 50   |
| 998 | ,170 | ,910 | 6,230 | ,640 | 73,650 | 1,220 | ,895 | ,270 |
| ^   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1/^ |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 1   | 420  | 275  | 23    | 207  | 1      | 12    | 86   | 47   |
| 999 | ,567 | ,100 | 9,910 | ,150 | 69,620 | 8,410 | ,915 | ,220 |
| ^   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1/^ |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 2   | 458  | 310  | 27    | 234  | 1      | 15    | 109  | 61   |
| 000 | ,827 | ,300 | 5,270 | ,260 | 97,670 | 3,520 | ,160 | ,270 |
| ^   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1/^ |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 2   | 387  | 258  | 22    | 192  | 1      | 11    | 81   | 42   |
| 001 | ,033 | ,750 | 4,680 | ,090 | 58,590 | 9,950 | ,200 | ,990 |
| ^   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1/^ |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 2   | 407  | 264  | 23    | 199  | 1      | 12    | 83   | 45   |
| 002 | ,085 | ,485 | 1,490 | ,020 | 65,210 | 5,770 | ,040 | ,880 |
| ^   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1/^ |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 2   | 403  | 267  | 23    | 200  | 1      | 12    | 85   | 46   |
| 003 | ,181 | ,900 | 3,590 | ,230 | 66,280 | 6,110 | ,000 | ,020 |
| ^   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1/^ |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 2   | 403  | 271  | 23    | 203  | 1      | 12    | 88   | 51   |
| 004 | ,587 | ,100 | 6,700 | ,490 | 68,020 | 8,900 | ,550 | ,700 |
| ^   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1/^ |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 2   | 374  | 253  | 22    | 189  | 1      | 11    | 75   | 41   |
| 005 | ,298 | ,800 | 0,500 | ,100 | 55,500 | 5,700 | ,900 | ,560 |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 2   | 382  | 259  | 22    | 192  | 1      | 12    | 79   | 44   |
| 006 | ,272 | ,300 | 6,100 | ,600 | 59,700 | 1,000 | ,050 | ,460 |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| 2   | 400  | 270  | 23    | 206  | 1      | 13    |      |      |
| 007 | ,085 | ,100 | 7,500 | ,200 | 71,800 | 0,100 |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+
| ^   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 1/^ |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| 15  |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| ma  |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| jor |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| S   |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| tat |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
| es. |      |      |       |      |        |       |      |      |
+-----+------+------+-------+------+--------+-------+------+------+