1 

Marketing

U.S. Potatoes

2011 Crop 

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 Federal-State 

 Market News Service 

 Idaho State Department of Agriculture 

 Oregon State University 

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Cooperating with 

 United State Department of Agriculture 

 Agricultural Marketing Service 
2 

 Fruit & Vegetable Programs 

Marketing U.S. Potatoes 

2011 Crop 

Foreword

This abbreviated summary is the result of technology that allows you to 

select only the prices and shipments you are interested in from the 

Market News Portal. You can access the Fruit and Vegetable Market 

News Portal at 

http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/portal/fv

Historical shipment and price information can be obtained by using Run 

a Custom Report. 

The U.S. Potato Monthly Shipments are generated out of the Market 

News Portal, downloaded in Excel and organized into a Pivot Table. 

The National Potato and Onion Report is still published and is available by a free email service. 

To receive this report by email call 208-525-0166. It is also available on the Web at 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/mncs/idop.pdf

If you have any questions, call the Idaho Falls Market News office at 208-525-0166 

CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS 

PATRICIA R. WILLKIE 

Local Representative 

TONY SORENSON 

Market Reporter 

JENNIFER NOURY 

Idaho Falls, ID 

(208)525-0166

DEBRA FRIDAY 

Local Representative 

KEITH MURPHY 

Market Reporter 

Benton Harbor, MI 

(616)925-3270 

KARRIE GONZALEZ 

Local Representative 

Raleigh, NC 

(919)856-4377 

BRETT RICHARDSON 

Local Representative 

Richmond, VA 

(804)371-0319 

RELEASED: October 2012 
3 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

2011 Season 

California, Kern District 4-6 

Colorado 7-9 

Delaware 10 

Florida 11-12 

Idaho 13-14 

Klamath Basin 15-16 

Maine 17-18 

Maine Chipping Potatoes 19 

Maine Seed Potatoes 20 

Michigan Potatoes 21-22 

Michigan Chipping Potatoes 23-24 

Big Lake & Central Minnesota 25 

Red River Valley (Minnesota & North Dakota) 26-27 

New York Long Island 28-29 

New York Chipping Potatoes 30 

North Carolina 31-32 

Ohio Chipping Potatoes 33 

Pennsylvania Chipping Potatoes 34 

Columbia Basin Washington & Umatilla Basin 35-36 

Northwestern Washington 37-38 

Wisconsin 39 

Virginia 40-41 

Virginia Chip Stock 42 

Virginia Seed Stock 43-44 

New Brunswick Canada 45-46 

Monthly Potato Shipments 47 
4 

MARKETING KERN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA SPRING POTATOES 

2011 CROP

Acreage & Production: USDA, NASS estimated the California Spring crop production at: 

KERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT SPRING POTATO CROP 

CROP HARVESTED YIELD PRODUCTION PRICE PRODUCTION 

YEAR ACRES 

PER 

ACRE CWT 

PER 

CWT VALUE 

2003 19,000 440 8,360,000 $12.60 105,336,000 

2004 17,500 475 8,313,000 $13.40 111,394,000 

2005 15,100 405 6,116,000 $13.00 79,508,000 

2006 15,300 395 6,044,000 $12.00 72,528,000 

2007 15,500 395 6,123,000 $10.20 62,455,000 

2008 14,300 420 6,006,000 $11.00 66,066,000 

2009 17,500 410 7,175,000 $17.50 125,563,000 

2010 27,000 405 10,935,000 $11.80 129,033,000 

2011 

5 year average 17,920 405 7,255,600 $12.50 91,129,000 

change from 2010 to 2011 154% 99% 152% 67% 71% 

change from avg to 2010 151% 100% 151% 94% 142% 

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

Kern County Department of Agriculture and Measurement Standards indicated acreage was: 

Kern County Spring Potato Acreage 

 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 % change 

Lone White 1,826 1,679 1,810 1,745 1,464 -16% 

Round Red 2,047 1,960 2,398 2,344 1,975 -16% 

Russet 4,030 3,292 3,516 1,987 2,493 +26% 

Yellow Type 1,365 1,431 1,421 1,399 1,404 +1% 

Chipper 3,745 3,640 ** ** 5,327 

Total Acreage 13,013 12,002 9145 7,484 12,663 

*Note: One major Kern County shipper does not release their acreage. 

**Kern County Dept of Ag no longer tracks potato acreage. Acreage is compiled by local shippers. 
5 

Weather and Crop Conditions: Heavy snow 

fell upon the Sierra Mountains and the western 

foothills followed by ample rain fall delaying the 

Kern County potato grower’s access into their 

fields for spring work. The delays continued 

through mark-out, planting, cultivating and 

eventually harvest. By the time all delays were 

included the potato harvest was delayed 

anywhere from 7-14 days. This was one of the 

latest winters on record and rainfall records in 

the spring were shattered in and around Kern 

County. However, the growing season of late 

spring and the harvest season of early summer 

was ideal. It was very mild, with moderate 

temperatures through the day time and limited 

rain fall that allowed growers to put just the 

correct amount of irrigation water on the potato 

crop. The results of this wonderful season was a 

“once in a lifetime” potato crop. Yields were 

absolutely phenomenal ranging from 550-600 

cwt per acre in fields that normally yield 375-

400 cwt per acre. Tuber quality was the best 

shippers had ever seen in Kern County leaving 

little off grade to deal with and a extremely 

satisfied customer. Delivery problem were few 

as the quality held up in shipment, throughout 

the season. The 2011 crop was an ideal 

situation; good crop, great yield, high price and 

satisfied customers. 

KERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA POTATO SHIPMENTS 

2009 Spring Crop 2010 Spring Crop 2011 Spring Crop

Purple Type 78,141 62,899 cwt 30,537 

Fingerling 92,129 81,881 cwt 55,211 

Yellow Type 412,708 512,808 cwt 591,139 

Long White 607,073 743,005 cwt 800,709 

Round Red 618,467 842,063 cwt 745,753 

Russet 846,953 545,308 cwt 985,171 

Rail/piggy-back 965,200 836,850 cwt 1,094,400 

TOTAL SHIPMENTS 3,620,671 3,624,814 cwt 3,208,520

Shipments: Local Kern county shipments of 2011crop started week-ending May 1 and 

continued until week-ending August 7. 

Kern District Potato Truck Shipments By Variety

 2010 Spring Crop 2011 Spring Crop 

VARIETY CWT Percentage CWT Percentage 

Purple 62,899 2 20,121 .95 

Fingerling 81,881 2 36,379 1.72 

Yellow Type 512,808 14 389,506 18.42 

Long White 743,005 21 527,594 24.96 

Round Red 842,063 23 491,383 23.24 

Russet 545,308 15 649,137 30.70 

Mixed Varieties 0 0 

TOTAL TRUCK 2,787,964 77 2,114,120 66 

Rail 836,850 23 1,094,400 34 

TOTAL 3,624,814 100 3,208,520 100 
6 

Marketing: The 2011 season was the fifth 

season the shippers ask for and received an 

additional handling fee of 45 cents per 

carton/bale. Long White, Round Red and 

Yellow Type prices were collected starting 

week ending May 14, 2011 and ended week 

ending July 16, 2011. 

Long Whites: 50-pound carton size A, U.S. 

One opened at $14.45-16.45 per carton on 

week ending May 14, then closed at $14.45-

16.45 on week ending July 16. They never 

traded lower than week ending July 18 & 25 

at $10.45-14.45 and traded highest week 

ending May 21 at $16.45. 

Round Reds: 50-pound carton size A, U.S. 

One opened at $14.45-16.45 per carton on 

week ending May 14, then closed at $16.45-

18.45 on week ending July 16. They never 

traded higher than the last two weeks and 

traded lowest on week ending May 28-June 

11 at $14.45. 

Yellow Type: 50-pound carton size A, U.S. 

One opened at $24.45-26.45 per carton on 

week ending May 14, then closed at $18.45-

22.45 on week ending July 16. They never 

traded higher than the first week and traded 

lowest at $18.45 on week ending July 11. 

Russet Norkotah: U.S. One size A baled 10 

5-lb film bags opened at $9.45-10.45 on 

week ending June 18, and closed at $10.45-

11.45 on week ending July 30. U.S. One 

50-pound carton 80s opened the season on 

weekending June 18 at $16.45 per carton 

and closed on weekending July 30 at 

$15.45-16.45 per carton. They never traded 

lower than the last week and the highest they 

traded was the first week of the season. 

Three of the Kern County shippers operate 

their facilities outside of the traditional 

Spring Potato Season. They have a winter 

crop grown in their Kern fields, including 

the Lake Isabella area and operations in 

what they call “the desert”, which is in the 

Imperial Valley-Coachella area. One Kern 

shipper also uses potatoes grown in the 

Lancaster area. Those three areas are 

reported in separate districts: winter crop is 

California-Central, the desert deal in 

reported as California-Imperial Valley, and 

Lancaster is included in the CaliforniaSouthern. Shipments are reported in a 

weekending format in these districts. Prices 

are not reported by the Market News in 

these areas, so that confidentiality can be 

maintained. The winter crop runs from 

November into March. The desert deal runs 

in April. The Lancaster crop starts as the 

Kern spring deal finishes in late June and 

runs into early October. One other 

California shipper has ground throughout 

southern California, allowing them to 

harvest potatoes throughout the year. 

Transportation Trends: Trucks hauled 66 

percent of the crop; down from 77 percent 

last year. Trucks were extremely hard to 

come by, but rail was even more of a 

shortage. Most shippers must rely on the 

customer to find a truck. Buyers had limited 

luck finding a truck that was going to 

California. Finding a truck already in-state 

that was empty was extremely difficult. 

Piggy-back continues to be an alternate 

method of transportation because of the 

limited availability of trucks and rail cars. 

Another transportation opportunity for Kern 

County shippers is Railex with Corporate 

Headquarters in Riverhead, New York. The 

shipping facility is located in Delano, 

California (outside of Bakersfield). Railex 

delivers potatoes/produce weekly, coast to 

coast in five days, from Delano, California 

to its Rotterdam, New York facility. The 

Albany, New York area is unique in that 

Railex can service 5 major cities in four 

hours or less. It is extremely well served by 

rail, yet lacks the congestion associated with 

major metropolitan areas. This combination 

makes for a highly efficient transfer of 

goods to market that can be coupled with 

high volume and consistent supply through 

Railex's platform. Kern shippers are indeed 

pleased with the new and additional 

opportunity for shipping into the lucrative 

East Coast market.

Transportation: Transportation, both truck 

and rail was extremely difficult in 2011. 

Trucks were extremely short and rail cars 

shorter. Cost of trucks was also very high, 

but for the most part shippers did not have to 

discount the potato prices to accommodate 

the transportation costs. In other words, the 

customer was willing to pay the high price 

of transportation to get Kern County’s fine 

potato crop. 
7 

MARKETING COLORADO POTATOES

2011 CROP

Production: 

San Luis Valley Colorado (Fall Potato Crop) NASS 2011 Summary 

Area Planted Area Harvested 

2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011 

5,700 5,600 55,500 45,000 56,900 55,200 55,200 44,000 

 

Yield Production 

2008 2009 2010 2011 2008 2009 2010 2011 

385 400 390 355 21,907,000 22,080,000 21,528,000 15,620,00 

MARKETING YEAR AVERAGE PRICES PAID TO GROWER 

 Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011 

Potatoes (all) cwt $11.80 $6.05 $12.70 $10.70 

Potatoes (summer) cwt $13.50 $6.90 $11.20 $11.10 

Potatoes (fall) cwt $11.60 $6.00 $12.80 $10.70 

Planting-Growing-Harvesting 

Conditions: April 1... Summer potatoes 

were 10 percent planted compared with a 5-

year average of 9 percent. May 6... 

Summer potatoes are 75 percent planted 

compared with a 5-year average of 37 

percent and 33 percent of the crop is 

emerged. June 3... Summer potatoes are 90 

percent planted compared with a 5-year 

average of 78 percent and 45 percent of the 

crop was emerged. July 2... Summer 

potatoes were rated in mostly good 

condition at the end of the week. Fall potato 

emergence in the San Luis Valley reached 

99 percent by week’s end, ahead of the 5-

year average of 92 percent. The fall potato 

crop is rated in mostly good condition. 

August 5... Summer and fall potatoes were 

reported in mostly good condition at the end 

of the week. The harvest of summer potatoes 

began this week with 19 percent harvested 

by week’s end. September 4... Summer 

potatoes were 65 percent harvested with the 

crop reported in mostly good condition at 

the end of the week. Fall potatoes were 22 

percent harvested and reported in mostly 

good to excellent condition. September 

9... Summer potatoes were 95 percent 

harvested at the end of the week. Fall 

potatoes progressed to 72 percent harvested. 

September 10... Fall potatoes progressed to 

33 percent harvested, compared with a 5-

year average of 11 percent. Summer 

potatoes were 85 percent harvested at the 

end of the week. 
8 

Summer Marketing Season: The USDA 

Market News Service does not publish 

F.O.B. shipping point prices for Colorado’s 

summer crop due to having too few shippers 

to establish a market. 

Fall Marketing Season: Russet varieties of 

count cartons and non-size A bales started 

week ending September 3, 2011. 70 count 

Russet cartons started out at $20.00-21.00 

per carton and finished the season $11.00 

per carton. Size A baled 5 10-pound film 

bags started out at $15.00-17.300 and 

finished at $11.00-11.50. U.S. Commercial 

bulk per cwt size A started at $12.00-14.50 

and finished at $8.50-10.50. 

Movement: The Market News Service 

began reporting light movement of Yellow 

Type Week ending August 20, 2011, Round 

Red week ending September 3, 2011. 

Shipments of Russets started shipping out of 

the San Luis Valley on weekending August 

20. Fall potato shipments peaked in midNovember with the Thanksgiving 

promotions running add business. Week 

ending November 19 saw the peak at 

477,759 cwt compared to 439,174 cwt in 

2010 and 412,638 cwt 2009. Mid-December 

saw another bump of Holiday business. 

Weeks ending December 17 saw 458,340 

cwt shipped. The Easter Holiday saw 

another bump of business with week ending 

March 17 shipments of 340,818 cwt. 

Colorado’s total shipments for the crop year 

through week-ending September 1, 2012 

equaled 14,162,952 cwt, compared to 

14,544,247 cwt in 2010, and 15,127,000 cwt 

in 2009. Shipments by variety: Round Red 

314,033 cwt in 2011, 339,741 cwt in 2010, 

and 330,114 cwt in 2009; Russet 12,615,020 

cwt in 2011, 13,229,402 cwt in 2010, 

13,655,381 cwt in 2009; Yellow Type 

856,172 cwt in 2011, 926,593 cwt in 2010, 

830,609 cwt in 2009. Shipments by rail 

were 367,900 cwt in 2011, 621,400 cwt in 

2010, and 188,500 cwt in 2009. 

Packaging: Major packaging remained the 

50-pound cartons, 10 and 5-pound poly bags 

in 50-pound paper or poly balers or card 

board bins, and dry bulk for Russet varieties 

(predominantly Norkotah with some Canela 

Russet, Classic Russet, Centennial Russet, 

Russet Nugget and Rio Grande Russet). 

Round Reds shipped primarily in 10 and 5-

pound poly in 50-pound paper or poly balers 

and card board bins, also 2 1⁄2-3 1⁄2” 

(Premiums) in 50-pound cartons, and size B 

in 50-pound paper sacks. Yellow Type 

shipped primarily as 5-pound poly in 50-

pound paper or poly balers and card board 

bins, also 2 1⁄2-3 1⁄2” (Premiums) in 50-pound 

cartons. 

Transportation: Trucks were a problem 

for the Colorado potato shippers most of the 

season. Transportation had become a 

critical issue as rising fuel prices in 2011 cut 

into growers’ profits. There were a few 

incidents early in the new calendar year, 

such as the Holiday season when trucks tend 

to haul the high paying Christmas tree loads. 

Also, spring time creates additional 

problems when trucks are tied up hauling 

nursery stock that also pays a premium. 
9 

Most of the Colorado’s tablestock crop ships 

out of State, including major distribution 

centers such as: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; 

Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, 

California; Miami, FL; New York, NY; 

Philadelphia, PA; and because of Colorado’s 

tie to and close proximity to Texas, 

Amarillo, TX; San Antonio, TX; and 

Houston, TX. 

Variety Survey: This report provides the 

results of a special Fall Potato Variety Survey 

of potato growers in the San Luis Valley for 

the 2011 crop. The survey was funded by the 

San Luis Valley Research Center and was 

conducted by the USDA/NASS Colorado 

Field Office. Data was collected from potato 

growers by return mail or telephone interviews 

conducted by enumerators. Responses to this 

year’s survey covered 46 percent of the 54,000 

acres planted for the 2011 crop compared with 

54 percent coverage in the 2010 survey. 

Russet varieties accounted for 87.0 percent of 

the 54,000 acres of all potatoes planted in the 

San Luis Valley for the 2011 crop compared 

with 85.0 percent last year. Yellow Flesh 

varieties were planted on 8.0 percent of the 

total acreage, down two percentage points 

from 2010. Red varieties were planted on 1.0 

percent of the total and the remaining 4.0 

percent of the total was made up of White and 

Other varieties. 

Russet Norkotah continued its ranking as the 

most popular variety among producers by 

being planted on 49.3 percent of the total 

potato acreage and accounting for 56.7 percent 

of all russet potatoes. Norkotah Selection 3 

was the most popular Russet Norkotah, 

accounting for 27.1 percent of the total acres 

planted; Norkotah Standard claimed 7.1 

percent; Selection 8 accounted for 4.7 percent; 

and all other Norkotah selections totaled 10.4 

percent. The Canela Russet variety ranked 

second among Russet varieties in 2011 by 

being planted on 11.5 percent of the total 

acreage and representing 13.2 percent of all 

russet varieties. The Classic Russet was the 

third most popular russet variety, representing 

6.6 percent of the total acreage and 7.6 percent 

of all russet varieties. Rio Grande Russet 

ranked fourth among russets with 6.2 percent 

of the total acreage. Centennial Russet was 

next with 4.0 percent, Mesa Russet accounted 

for 2.1 percent followed by Blazer Russet and 

Russet Nugget with 1.9 percent and 1.7 

percent, respectively. All Other Russet 

varieties were planted on 3.7 percent of the 

total acreage. 

Red varieties accounted for 1 percent of the 

planted acreage in 2011 including Cherry 

Red and Sangre. Individual varietal percents 

were withheld to avoid disclosing data for 

individual operations. 

Yukon Gold, a yellow flesh variety, was 

planted on 2.2 percent of the total acreage and 

represented 27.5 percent of all yellow flesh 

varieties. Other Yellow Flesh varieties were 

planted on 5.8 percent of the acreage. Chipita 

was the leading white variety planted, but 

individual varietal percents were withheld to 

avoid disclosing data for individual 

operations. Other White and Other 

Varieties includes other white varieties, 

research varieties and other specialty type 

potatoes. 
10 

MARKETING DELEWARE POTATOES

2011 CROP

Statistics: According to the Delaware 

Agricultural Statistics Service, growers 

planted and harvested 1,600 acres of 

potatoes during the 2011 season, unchanged 

from the previous season. Production and 

yields dropped slightly to 400,000 cwt. and 

250 cwt. per acre, according to the 

September 2012 Crop Production report 

released by NASS. The average price for 

the 2011 calendar Year totaled $10.40 per 

cwt., up .50 cents from the previous year 

($9.90) with the total value of production for 

2011 of $4.16 million dollars. The grower 

base remained at 5, despite continued 

pressures of urban sprawl. 

Movement: The Market News Service 

reported movement of approximately 

181,000 cwt. of table stock potatoes for the 

2011 season, down 25 percent from the 2010 

season (240,400 cwt). One grower did 

extend the shipping season beyond the 

Market News reporting period, and those 

totals were not included in the final tally. 

Shipments by Potato type were: Round 

Whites accounted for 74 percent of the total, 

Round Red 17 percent, Yellow Type 8 

percent and Russet 1 percent. The initial 

movement during the 2011 growing season 

began in late July with Market News 

shipments completed by the end of 

September. 

Growing and Harvest Season: Initial 

planting was underway at the end of March, 

with adequate to surplus soil moisture and 

cooler temperatures. By mid-month, 

planting progress was reported at 41 percent 

with continued moist field conditions 

reported through the month. Early May 

brought drier conditions which accelerated 

planting. By May 9, 72 percent of the 

potato crop was planted compared to the 5-

year average of 95 percent. By Memorial 

Day, the crop had been planted and soils 

remained adequate. Drier conditions were 

observed during June as temperatures 

climbed. Hot and dry conditions stressed 

the crop during July with record heat the 

first half of the month. Harvest of Round 

Red and Round White varieties was 

underway by mid-month and by the end of 

July, 55 percent of the crop had been 

harvested, compared to the five-year average 

of 32 percent. Although scattered showers 

were reported in early August, fields 

remained stresses without irrigation. By 

mid-month, 70 percent of the fields had been 

harvested. Hurricane Irene dumped several 

inches of rain on the area in late August, 

which halted harvest for several days, and 

made some tubers unmarketable. Harvest 

was completed by mid-September. 

Marketing Season: Market News Service 

reported the first F.O.B. shipping prices of 

the 2011 season the third week of July with 

good demand. Prices opened sharply 

higher than the previous season as 50-

pound sacks of U.S. One Size A Round 

Reds were reported at $22.00 ($16.00), and 

B size $24.00 ($20.00). Round White U.S. 

One size A 50-pound sacks also were much 

higher at $15.00 ($8.00) while Chef size 

were reported at $17.00 ($12.00). A strong 

spring market led prices upward prior to the 

Delaware harvest, and with the hot, dry 

weather ahead of the harvest, tuber size 

suffered slightly. The red crop was 

marketed quickly with good demand and 

prices remained steady. Round White were 

unchanged until mid-August, when demand 

slipped slightly and 50-pound sacks of size 

A dropped $1.00 to $14.00 and Chefs were 

unchanged at $17.00. During mid-August, 

rain delays curtailed harvest for several 

days. In late August, sluggish movement 

saw another $1.00 per 50-pound sack to both 

size A and chefs, where they ended the 

season at $13.00 and $16.00 respectfully, 

much above the previous season’s finish at 

mostly $7.00 and $12.00. During the latter 

half of August a few Yellows were reported 

with prices on 50-pound sacks size A at 

$20.00, sharply above the 2010 season price 

of $12.00. One grower continued with 

shipments well into October which were not 

recorded.
11 

MARKETING FLORIDA POTATOES

 

2011 CROP

Acreage & Production: 2011 crop 

production is listed by the USDA NASS in 

their January 2012 Crop Production-Annual 

Report for the 2011 crop summary. Area 

planted was 364,000 acres total, with 

Hastings as 234,000 acres and other as 

130,000 acres. Area harvested was 356,000

acre total, with Hastings as 231,000 acres, 

and other as 125,000 acres. Yield per acre 

was 256 cwt per acres state wide. Production 

was 9,112,000 cwt total, with Hastings at 

6,237,000 cwt and all other areas at 

2,875,000 cwt. 

Crop & Weather: Fields were being 

prepared for planting in late November 

2010, but low soil moisture delayed many 

fields. Week ending December 12 saw 

drought conditions reported in every county 

in the State. Freezing temperatures hit the 

state during mid-December. January saw 

cool temperatures for the first 3 weeks with 

major freezing temperature the first and 

second week of the month. Drought 

conditions in the Hastings area limited field 

preparation and irrigation. February planting 

in northern counties was slightly behind 

schedule due to a cold snap. Potato digging 

around Lake Okeechobee and in the 

Immokalee and Palmetto-Ruskin areas 

became active during February. March saw 

the final planting for the northern fields. 

April saw fields in the Hastings area varied 

by location with early harvest of chippers 

starting by weekending April 4. Early May 

saw good weather for the start of table stock 

harvest in the Northern counties. 

Harvesting: None of the Florida potato crop 

is put into storage. The entire production is 

packed and shipped at harvest. Thus harvest 

is on going through the packing season. 

Enough acres are harvested each day to keep 

the packing plants going based on demand 

and sales. Harvesting is not as stressful in 

Florida as it is in storage states that harvest 

into the night. 

Shipments: Shipments of fresh-table stock 

potatoes out of Florida for the 2011 season 

were 3,215,000 compared to 2,131,000 total 
12 

cwt in 2010. Round Red was 2,192,200 cwt 

in 2011, 1,472,400 cwt in 2010; Round 

White 667,700 cwt in 2011, 452,100 cwt in 

2010; Yellow Type 344,900 cwt in 2011, 

182,400 cwt in 2010; Russet Norkotahs 

5,500 in 2010, 2,500 in 2010; fingerling 420 

cwt in 2011 compared to 400 cwt in 2010; 

and purple of 60 cwt in 2011. Round Red 

shipments began the weekending January 22 

and finished weekending June 18. The 

Round Red crop had one week, April 23, 

that stood out with 2,513,000 cwt shipped. 

Round White shipments started on 

weekending February 12 and finished 

weekending June 18. May and June were the 

biggest shipping months for Round Whites. 

Yellow Type shipments began weekending 

February 12 and finishing the last week of 

the season of June 18. April was the biggest 

shipping months for Yellow Type. 

Shipments of chipper potatoes totaled 

37,581,000 cwt in 2011; 9,506,000 cwt in 

2010 season. Chipper shipments began the 

weekending February 5 and finished week 

ending July 2. Chipper shipments peaked 

from weekending May 21 through June 11. 

There is an area in north Florida shipping 

chipper potatoes earlier than those recorded. 

This early deal is not reported by the USDA. 

Marketing: No prices were issued for 

chipper potatoes in the 2011 season as most 

movement was contracted or open sales 

were in the hands of a few growers, with too 

few prices reported to establish a market. 

The USDA, AMS, Fruit &Vegetable Market 

News reported prices out of Florida from 

weekending March 7 through June 11 on 

Round Red. Round Red 50-pound sacks 

size A started out at $15.75-16.50 per sack, 

finishing at $11.75-14.75, mostly 13.75-

14.75. Round White 50-pound sacks size A 

started the season weekending March 7 at 

$25.50-25.75 and finished weekending June 

4 at $10.75-14.75, mostly $11.75-12.75. 

Yellow Type 50-pound sacks size A started 

the season week ending March 7 at $25.50-

25.75 and finished weekending May 21 at 

$21.75-23.75. 
13 

MARKETING IDAHO POTATOES

2011 CROP

Acreage & Production: According to the 

National Agricultural Statistics Service, the 

in-season estimate for 2011 crop acreage 

was 320,000 acres planted, an 8 percent 

increase from the final estimate for the 2010 

crop at 295,000 acres. The in-season 

estimate of 2011 yield was 404 cwt per acre, 

a 5 percent increase from the final estimate 

for 2010s yield of 384 cwt per acre. The inseason estimate of 2011 production was 

128,760 cwt, a 14 percent increase from the 

final estimate of 2010s production of 

112,970 cwt. 

Shipments: The first 2011 crop shipments 

were recorded during the weekending 

August 20, 2011. 535,000 cwt of 2010 

shipments over-lapped the start of 2011 crop 

marketed in August 2011. Fresh market 

shipments were in full volume from August 

2011 through August 2012. Shipments from 

Idaho in 2011 were 33,396,000 cwt, a slight 

increase from 2010s shipments of 

33,031,000 cwt. The peak shipping month 

was March 2012 at 3,131,000 cwt. 

Shipments were 96 percent Russet, 2 percent 

were Round Reds (including red skin/yellow 

flesh), and 2 percent were Yellows. 

The crop year is the calendar year when 

harvest occurred. Seasons are not fixed 

dates. Shipments are reported by the crop 

year (season) so overlapping shipments 

(generally in August) do occur as marketing 

from storage of the 2011 crop extended 

through September of 2012 after 2012 

harvest and shipments had started. 

Crop & Weather: During the month of 

April, 2011, temperatures varied from 10 

degrees below to 7 degrees above normal. 

Precipitation was received all month at 

nearly every station. However, growers 

were able to plant and by the end of the 

month planting was 77 percent complete in 

the Southwest growing region of the State, 

compared to 95 percent in 2010. The South 

Central region was 21 percent, compared to 

36 percent in 2010, the East was 14 percent 

compared to 9 percent, and Statewide it was 

19 percent, compared to 20 percent in 2010. 

Temperatures across the State ranged from 9 

degrees above to 3 degrees below normal in 

mid-May. Potatoes were starting to emerge 

in the Southwest. Planting Statewide was 72 

percent complete, compared to 71 percent in 

2010. During the last week of May, 

temperatures across the State ranged 6-13 

degrees below normal with above normal 

precipitation for the week. Irrigation water 

supply was at 99 percent in good to 

excellent condition. Planting was generally 

complete by the end of the first week of 

June. Emergence was 14 percent compared 

to 13 percent in 2010. 

Temperatures throughout most of June were 

as much as 12 degrees below normal. The 

weekending June 26 brought warmer and 

drier weather which helped advance crop 

progress. Statewide emergence was 96 

percent compared to 90 percent in 2010. 

The crop was in mostly good to excellent 

condition by the 4th of July. Potatoes that 

were 12 inches high were 54 percent 
14 

compared to 35 percent in 2010. Rows 

closing middles were 15 percent compared 

to 12 percent in 2010. During weekending 

July 10, 49 percent of rows had closed their 

middles, slightly ahead of the five year 

average. Ninety-three percent of the crop 

was 12 inches high, compared to 55 percent 

in 2010. By the end of July, Statewide 

potato condition declined slightly but 

remained in mostly good to excellent 

condition. All rows had closed their 

middles. 

During the first week of August, one percent 

of vines had died or been killed suggesting 

that harvest would start soon. However, 

light harvest didn’t begin in the Southwest 

growing region of Idaho until the third week 

of August. 

By Labor Day, the percentage of the potato 

crop with vines dying or killed trailed 2010 

and the 5 year average by 11 and 25 

percentage points respectively. Harvest in 

the Southwest was 31 percent complete 

compared to 32 percent in 2010, 2 percent 

complete in the South Central compared to 6 

percent in 2010, and had just barely started 

in the East. Statewide, harvest was 3 

percent complete. During the weekending 

September 11, farm operators in Twin Falls 

County reported that early potatoes were 

small and yields of some varieties were 

lower than average, according to University 

of Idaho Extension Education. 

Temperatures across Idaho ranged 3-11 

degrees above normal for the weekending 

September 25. Harvest was 20 percent 

complete, slightly behind the 5 year average 

of 24 percent. 

The weekending October 2 saw 

temperatures that ranged from 4 to 13 

degrees above normal. Vine dying or killed 

stage was 95 percent and harvest was 38 

percent complete for the entire State. 

Harvest was generally complete by the end 

of October. 

Marketing: The first report on Russet 

Norkotahs was issued during the 

weekending August 20, 2011 out of the 

Twin Falls-Burley District and Western 

Idaho. U.S. One baled 5 10-pound film bags 

non size A were $7.50-8.00 and the 50-

pound cartons of 70s were $21.00-22.00. 

Marketing shifted to include the Upper 

Valley during the weekending September 

03, 2011. 

The first report on Russet Burbanks was 

issued during the weekending October 1, 

2011 out of the Upper Valley, Twin FallsBurley District Idaho. U.S. One baled 5 10-

pound film bags non size A were $5.50-6.25 

and the 50-pound cartons of 70s were 

$10.00-12.00. 

The last report on Russet Norkotahs was 

issued during the weekending May 15, 2012 

out of the Upper Valley, Twin Falls-Burley 

District Idaho. U.S. one baled 5 10-pound 

film bags non size A were $6.00-6.50 and 

the 50-pound cartons of 70s were $9.00-

10.50. 

The last report on Russet Burbanks was 

issued during the weekending August 11, 

2012 out of the Upper Valley, Twin FallsBurley District Idaho. U.S. one baled 5 10-

pound film bags non size A were $4.50 and 

the 50-pound cartons of 70s were $10.00. 

No consideration is given to after-sale 

adjustments unless otherwise stated. 

Brokerage fees paid by the shipper are 

included in the price reported. 
15 

MARKETING KLAMATH BASIN POTATOES 

2011 CROP

Acreage & Production:

California Fall Potatoes 

 Acres Acres CWT CWT CWT Production 

 Planted Harvested Acre Production Price Value 

2006 8,600 8,600 450 3,870,000 NA NA 

2007 7,900 7,900 480 3,792,000 $7.70 26,299,000 

2008 8,400 8,400 470 3,948,000 $7.55 26,906,000 

2009 8,000 8,000 495 3,960,000 $8.95 37,214,000 

2010 6,500 6,500 435 2,828,000 $10.00 28,280,000 

2011 8,800 8,800 490 4,312,000 $8.80 37,946,000 

Klamath County Oregon Potatoes 

 Acres CWT CWT 

 Harvested Acre Production 

2007 5,300 485 2,570,500 

2008 5,300 430 2,279,000 

2009 5,400 450 2,430,000 

2010 6,500 403 2,620,000 

2011 6,200 410 2,542,000 

Shipments: Klamath Basin fresh potato 

shipments were 2,227,026 cwt. With the 

California side of the Basin at 873,553 

million cwt and the Oregon side at 

1,353,473 million cwt. The shipping 

period was from weekending August 24, 

2011 to week ending September 29, 2012. 

The week ending November 19 was the 

peak of shipments with 89,735 cwt for that 

week. 
16 

SHIPMENTS 

 

KLAMATH BASIN DISTRICT 

NORTHERN 

CALIFORNIA 

DISTRICT 

ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL 

FINGERLING 20,628 *** 

MIXED 4,768 4 

PURPLE 4,184 4,534 

ROUND RED 71,082 49,359 

ROUND 

WHITE 593 ***  

YELLOW TYPE 27,738 37,946 

RUSSET 94,337 1,038,300 873,553 

TOTAL 223,330 1,130,143 873,553 

OREGON 1,353,473 

DISTRICT 2,227,026 

Weather and Crop Conditions: Cold and 

wet conditions throughout the Basin 

persisted most of April. Measurable 

precipitation was reported most of the 

month; with some storms measuring more 

than one inch. Average temperatures were 

between 38 to 52 or daytime highs. Tillage, 

planting and other field work was slow or 

impractical as cold, wet weather persisted. 

May conditions improved. For the most 

part, conditions were good for farm work. A 

glimpse of summer with a few sunny days 

was welcomed, although average 

temperatures were still about four degrees 

cooler than normal. Precipitation was about 

normal. Potato field activities were behind. 

Some catch up occurred in Klamath County, 

but things were delayed. A mix of sun and 

rain the month of July brought 

thunderstorms in some areas of the Basin 

and low temperature dropped into the low 

30s forcing growers to start up their solid 

sets. Early potato varieties were starting to 

bloom. Warm temperatures and dry 

conditions continued through most of 

August. Geese started their migration 

already. Higher than normal temperatures 

were reported in September with potato 

harvest in full swing. Good harvest weather 

continued into October until the harvest of 

all potato acres was complete. 

Marketing: Prices from the Klamath Basin 

for Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film 

bags non-size A (on a per bale basis) opened 

at $5.00-5.50 the week ending October 1, 

2011. Season ending prices were $4.00 

week ending July 21, 2011, which was also 

the season low. The season high was $7.00. 

50-pound carton 70s prices opened at 

$10.00-13.00 per carton, which was the 

season high. Season ending prices on 70 

counts was $9.00, which was also the season 

low for 70 counts. 
17 

MARKETING MAINE POTATOES

2011 CROP

Production: Maine’s planted potato 

acreage totaled 57,000 acres, 2,000 

additional acres than the previous season, 

and the first acreage increase in the past five 

seasons, according to New England 

Agricultural Statistics. Harvested acres 

totaled 54,000, 800 less acres than the 2010 

season though. Production decreased 10 

percent to 14.3 million cwt. from the 

previous year (15.8 million cwt.). Yields 

decreased to 265 cwt. per acre, when 

compared to the previous two seasons’ totals 

of 275 and 290 cwt. per acre, and the five 

year average of 279. According to NASS, 

the average price for the 2011 calendar year

totaled $10.40 per cwt, a .40 increase from 

the previous year ($10.00) with the value 

of production nearly $149 million dollars, a 

6 percent decrease from last season ($159). 

Objective Yield Survey: Results from the 

annual Potato Objective Yield Survey 

conducted by NASS officials indicated the 

Russet Burbank again as the leading (fry 

processing) variety planted in the state, and 

comprised 43 percent of the total acreage, up 

from the previous year total of 38 percent. 

All Frito-Lay numbered chipping selections 

followed with 12.5 percent (last season 38 

percent), the Snowden chipper accounted for 

5.5 percent (5.8 percent) and followed by 

Russet Norkotah with 4.1 percent (5.2 

percent) and Shepody with 4.1 percent (5.2 

percent) of the total state acreage. The next 

three varieties included Superior, Norland 

and Reba, which all showed increases in 

acreages with 4.1 percent, 3.9 percent and 

2.7 percent respectively for 2011. Acreages 

by potato type were Russets 55 percent (51), 

Whites (both Long and Round) 38 percent 

(39 percent), Yellows 4 percent (5 percent) 

and Reds 4 percent (5 percent). Round 

Whites graded by percentage of No.1 

climbed to 81 percent from 70 percent for 

the 2010 season, while Russets slid slightly 

from 69 percent to 67 percent for the year. 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Less than 

optimal planting and growing conditions got 

the 2011 crop off to a slow start across the 

state. Heavy and prolonged rains slowed 

progress. Although the crop was 100 

percent seeded by the middle of June only 

50 percent emergence was visible at that 

time. Both planting and emergence was 1-2 

weeks behind a normal schedule. Heavy 

rains in late June and early July caused 

serious wash outs in many fields, and wet 

conditions place growers on a 5 – day spray 

schedule to combat late blight. Rains 

continued, making July the wettest month on 

record in northern Maine. Wet conditions 

prevailed in August as well, with some 

locations in the County receiving over 10 

inches of rain. In September, dodging rain 

showers, growers worked long days and 

nights to complete harvest. Some tubers 

went into storages wet, and breakdown in 

the storages was above average. 

Shipments: Many growers began packing 

later than normal due to the condition of 

tubers. Maine fresh potato shipments

through December 2011 were down sharply 

(18 percent) at 775,579 cwt, compared to 

947,053 cwt the previous season as reported 

by the Market News Service. Early Round 

White movement declined sharply by 27 

percent, Round Red and Yellows decreased 

19 percent and 16 percent while Russet 

movement remained nearly the same as the 

previous year (257,581 cwt). By early 

March, supplies dwindled and were held in 

fewer hands. Major destinations along the 

Eastern Seaboard included Pennsylvania, 

Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, 

and Virginia. Shipments by type through 
18 

June 2012 season were: Round White 

953,223 cwt (1,250,500 cwt), Round Red 

141,457 cwt (174,781 cwt), Yellow type 

163,819 cwt (252,256 cwt), and Russets 

537,827 cwt (620,179 cwt) for a combined 

total of 1,796,326 cwt (2,297,649 cwt). The 

combined variety total represented a 22 

percent decline in shipments from the 

previous crop year, led by a sharp decrease 

for Yellows of 35 percent, and followed by 

Round White varieties, which were down 24 

percent. Round Reds declined by 19 percent 

while Russet varieties were off by 13 

percent from the previous season. 

Easements: According to the Maine 

Department of Agriculture’s Inspection 

Service, 491 loads (263,470 cwt) were sent 

to Canada for processing for the season 

through June 2012, compared to 614 loads 

(326,281 cwt) the previous year. 

Potato Stocks: Stocks on hand December 

1, 2011 totaled 10.6 million cwt, down 14 

percent from the previous season’s 

December 1 holdings (12.3 ‘000 cwt) and 

was the lowest stocks on hand recorded in 

the state since estimates began in 1971, 

according to New England Agricultural 

Statistics Service. Disappearance totaled 

3.57 million cwt, compared to 3.59 million 

cwt the previous season. Maine’s processor 

usage (excluding chips) totaled 1.90 million 

cwt, compared to 1.86 ‘000 cwt a year 

earlier. Storage accounted for 75 percent of 

the State’s total production: 55 percent 

Russets, 39 percent Round White varieties, 2 

percent yellows and 3 percent red varieties. 

The April 1 stocks on hand was the lowest 

on hand at this time since 1992 reported 

4.40 million cwt, 25 percent less than the 

previous year of 5.9 million cwt and 

represented 31 percent of total production in 

storage, 6 percent less than last year and 

below the previous 5-year average of 39 

percent. 

Marketing Season: Market News issued 

the first F.O. B. shipping point prices

slightly later than normal in early November 

with Russet Norkotah U.S. One 2 inch or 4 

ounce minimum baled 10 5-pound film bags 

from $9.00-10.00 and Round White U.S. 

One 2 inch minimum baled 10 5-pound film 

bags from $9.50-10.25, a strong $2.00 above 

the 2010 initial market prices. Prices 

remained relatively flat for much of the 

shipping season, with a slight bump on 

Russet Norkotah 5s in each March to 

$10.00-10.50, while Round Whites varied 

little and finished at mostly $10.00. The last 

pricing report was issued at the end of April 

with remaining supplies in few hands, due to 

the early season losses. The end of the 

season prices varied little from the previous 

year, with a slight increase in Russets and a 

slight decrease in the Round White market. 

Very light shipments of Russets and Round 

Whites continued through June. 

Packaging: The major consumer package 

for Maine potatoes has been the baled 10 5-

pound film bags for Russets and Round 

Whites. Some Russets are also packed as 

baled 10s with few cartons being utilized by 

packing sheds. Some potatoes were packed 

in totes and sent to repackers near 

metropolitan areas this season. There 

continued to be some premium pack sizes 

such as 2 1⁄4 inch minimum on Round 

Whites for some chain store accounts and 5-

9 ounce packs on Russets packed in bales as 

well. 

Transportation: Fuel costs were higher 

this season, which drove surcharges 

skyrocketing from 15-30 percent during the 

shipping season. Base rates remained 

unchanged from the previous season: New 

York $3.00, Boston $2.40, Philadelphia 

$3.50 and Baltimore $3.75 cwt. There were 

few instances of truck shortages during the 

season, and with the smaller tablestock crop, 

there were only a few instances when 

shippers scrambled for transportation near 

the Holidays and peak seed potato 

movement in February-March. 
19 

MAINE CHIPPING POTATOES

2011 CROP

Statistics: Maine chipping potato 

movement totaled 1.9 million 

hundredweight, down 23 percent from the 

previous season’s total of over 2.4 million 

cwt. Total production for the State was 14.3 

million cwt, a decrease of 10 percent from 

the previous year (15.8 ‘000 cwt). Yields 

fell to 265 cwt per acre compared to the 

previous year (290), and was the lowest 

yield reported since the 2003 season. 

Shipments began mid-August and finished 

in early June. Most of the chipping 

production is located in Central and 

Southern Aroostook County with two major 

growers in the northern part of the county. 

According to NASS, the average price for 

the 2011 calendar year totaled $10.40 per 

cwt., up .40 cents from the previous year 

($10.00) although the value of production 

decreased to nearly $149 million dollars 

($158.9 million last season). Nationally, 

potatoes used for chips and shoestrings 

totaled 58.6 million cwt in 2011, up 8 

percent from the previous year total of 54.5 

million cwt. 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Less than 

optimal planting and growing conditions got 

the 2011 crop off to a slow start across the 

state. Heavy and prolonged rains slowed 

progress. Although the crop was 100 

percent seeded by the middle of June, only 

50 percent emergence was visible at that 

time. Both planting and emergence was 1-2 

weeks behind a normal schedule. Heavy 

rains in late June and early July caused 

serious wash outs in many fields, and wet 

conditions place growers on a 5 – day spray 

schedule to combat late blight. Rains 

continued, making July the wettest month on 

record in northern Maine. Wet conditions 

prevailed in August as well, with some 

locations in the County receiving over 10 

inches of rain. In September, dodging rain 

showers, growers worked long days and 

nights to complete harvest. Some tubers 

went into storages wet, and breakdown in 

the storages was above average. 

Marketing: Harvest of out-of-the-field 

supplies began in mid-August. Growers 

suffered losses in chip acreage, due to poor 

weather conditions and some late blight. 

Shipments peaked in December-January as 

retailers prepared for NFL play-off games 

and the Super Bowl. By the end of March, 

weekly movement slowed and fell behind 

the previous year’s pace. The final 

movement report of the 2011 season was 

issued for the week ending June 2nd. There 

was no open market trading reported to the 

MNS as growers only planted what they had 

contracted with buyers. Frito-Lay was the 

major buyer/contractor in the state with 

smaller contracts going to Snyder’s/Lances, 

Utz, Wachusetts, and a few additional 

buying broker/dealers along the East Coast. 
20 

MAINE SEED POTATOES

2011 CROP

Acreage: Certified potato seed acreage for 

the 2011 season increased slightly from the 

previous season as the Florida-tested and 

certified acreage for the 2011 season totaled 

11,161 acres, compared to 10,849 and 

10,775 acres the previous two seasons, and 

again was the largest acreage since the 2006 

crop year. These figures did not include 

growers own seed plots. The Maine Seed 

Inspection Department was responsible for 

inspection and certification of seed 

shipments by variety and destination for the 

industry. Certification tags were issued by 

state Seed Potato Specialists for lots that met 

official grades for Maine Certified Seed, and 

after Florida testing, recorded 5 per cent or 

less virus diseased plants. The major seed 

varieties were: Frito-Lay numbered chipping 

selections, Russet Burbank (all strains), 

Atlantic (chip), Superior (NY Strain), Reba, 

Snowden (chip), Yukon Gold, Dark Red 

Norland, NorWis, and Andover. Within 

these varieties, the biggest increases were 

noted in Russet Burbank strains with an 

increase of 37 percent overall (notably 

Montana strain with 260 percent increase), 

Dark Red Norland up 17 percent from the 

previous year, Snowden ahead by 8 percent 

and Reba and Yukon Gold varieties tied 

with an increase of 7 percent, followed by 

the Frito-Lay chipping varieties which 

increased 6 percent, and Superior (NY 

Strain) with a 4 percent gain. The only 

decreases in the major varieties above were 

Atlantics with a 7 percent decrease and 

Norwis with a 3 percent decline. 

Shipments: Shipments began the end of 

November to Florida and finished the end of 

May for the 2011 shipping season. 

Movement totaled 1,099,052 cwt, a 

decrease of 14 percent compared to the 

previous season total of 1,274, 453 cwt, 

according to the Maine Seed Inspection 

Department. Major destinations for Maine 

seed were: Florida with 245,491 cwt 

(292,415 cwt), North Carolina 213,026 cwt

(210,625 cwt), New York 198,447 cwt

(213,933 cwt), Pennsylvania 83,107 cwt 

(107,923 cwt), and a sharp drop for Canada 

with 45,850 cwt (71,820 cwt). Peak

volume was reported between March-midApril, when New York, Pennsylvania, and 

other Mid-Atlantic States received the bulk 

of their shipments. Destinations included 

30 states and/or countries this season. The 

major varieties shipped by Maine seed 

growers were Frito Lay numbered

chipping selections with 190, 255 cwt 

(221,270 cwt) Atlantic 188,542 cwt

(226,323) Snowden 109,661 cwt (121,569), 

Reba 74,912 cwt (101,975), Superior 

strains 69,112 cwt (72,864), Norwis

48,350 cwt (56,727), and Kennebec 44,866 

cwt (50,949). 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Less than 

optimal planting and growing conditions got 

the 2011 crop off to a slow start across the 

State. Heavy and prolonged rains slowed 

progress. Although the crop was 100 

percent seeded by the middle of June, only 

50 percent emergence was visible at that 

time. Both planting and emergence was 1-2 

weeks behind a normal schedule. Heavy 

rains in late June and early July caused 

serious wash outs in many fields, and wet 

conditions place growers on a 5 – day spray 

schedule to combat late blight. Rains 

continued, making July the wettest month on 

record in northern Maine. Wet conditions 

prevailed in August as well, with some 

locations in the County receiving over 10 

inches of rain. In September, dodging rain 

showers, growers worked long days and 

nights to complete harvest. Some tubers 

went into storages wet, and breakdown in 

the storages was above average. 

Marketing: No open market pricing was 

reported during the shipping season. Most 

movement occurred as a result of pre-season 

sales. Prices were strong due to seed losses 

from the challenging 2011 growing season. 
21 

MARKETING MICHIGAN POTATOES

2011 CROP

Production: Michigan growers harvested 

44,000 acres, 500 additional acres than 

the previous season while production 

slipped 3 percent to nearly 15.2 million cwt 

(15.6 million cwt in 2010). Yield was 

reduced 15 cwt to 345 cwt per acre 

compared to the record yields of 360 cwt

the previous two seasons. According to 

NASS, the average price for the 2011 

calendar year totaled $11.60 per cwt, a .70 

cent increase from the previous year 

($10.90), with the value of production nearly 

$176 million dollars ($170.7 in 2010). 

Potato acreage by variety was: Russets 13 

percent, Round Whites 85 percent, and 

Round Red 2 percent. 

Movement: Light shipments of the summer 

Round White Onaway crop began the end of 

July, as demand was slowed by recordbreaking heat and light demand for potatoes. 

Supplies of the summer Onaway crop were 

in few hands in the Eastern Bay County 

region, so unofficial F.O.B. Shipping Point 

Prices were released weekly in the Market 

News National Shipping Point Trends 

Report released each Tuesday during the 

season. Early Round White movement 

lagged behind the previous season due to 

light demand and low prices of competing 

supplies of Russets. Peak movement of 

Russets occurred during the Thanksgiving 

rush through mid-January, and again in 

March and April for Easter and spring 

promotions. As White supplies cleaned up 

in the East, shippers found new customers 

for their remaining supplies. 

The final total for the season reported by the 

MNS the latter half of June totaled nearly 

1.95 million cwt, compared to 1.96 million 

cwt the previous season. Russet varieties 

accounted for nearly 76 percent of the total, 

while Round White loads made up 23 

percent, and Round Red and Yellows only 1 

percent of the total. 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Cool and 

wet conditions delayed planting until early 

May. Unsettled weather with scattered 

showers resulted in prolonged delays for 

most of the month. By the end of the 

month, 82 percent of the crop was planted, 

although there were concerns that some of 

the crop would be lost due to excessive 

moisture. Emergence was very slow; only 

21 percent compared to 62 percent the 

previous season and the 5 year average of 48 

percent at the end of the month. Most of 

the planting had been completed by the 

middle of June. Soils began to dry by midJune, and the mean temperatures across the 

state during July were 3.7 degrees above 

normal, which was the warmest July on 

record since 1955. High temperatures 

reached or exceeded 90 degrees on as many 

as 15 days in some southerly locations. 

Total precipitation averaged statewide for 

the month was 2.99 inches. August 

continued to be generally warmer than 

normal with rainfall totals less than 1 inch 

over portions of upper Central Michigan, to 

more than 5 inches in locations on the 

Central Lower Peninsula. Following a brief 

heat wave in early September, frosts and 

freezing temperatures arrived in portions of 

the State mid-month. Another extended 

period of warm, dry weather was prevalent 

the first half of October; however, the last 

week of October brought rainy days and 

hard freezes across much of the state. Daily 

harvest and drying hours were greatly 

reduced, although table stock growers were 

finished by Halloween. 
22 

Onaway Summer Marketing Season: 

Light shipments of the summer Round 

White Onaway crop commenced in East 

Central Michigan a little later than normal 

due to unseasonably hot and humid 

conditions for much of July. Supplies of 

Onaway were in few hands in Bay County, 

so unofficial F.O.B. Shipping Point Prices 

were released weekly in the Market News 

National Shipping Point Trends Report 

released each Tuesday beginning midAugust to mid-October. Demand was 

sluggish with U.S. One size A 10-pound 

open window sacks loose reported by the 

Market News Service from $2.45-2.50 per 

ten-pound sack, up sharply from the 

previous season by an average of $6.00 cwt. 

By Labor Day, prices had slipped to $1.90-

1.95 per 10-pound open-window sacks loose 

and baled 10 5-pound paper sacks mostly 

11.00. Heavy rains along the East Coast 

spurred some temporary demand the first 

half of September. Prices continued to slip 

however, and as the Onaway crop cleaned 

up by mid-October, White prices finished 

the summer season at mostly $1.75 per ten 

and baled 5s at $10.25. 

Storage Season: The first daily F.O.B. 

Shipping Point Prices were issued October 

31, 2011 by the Market News Service. 

Russet Norkotah and Goldrush U.S. One 

size A ten pound film bags loose brought 

mostly $1.80-2.15, an average of $3.00 cwt 

higher than the 2010 season. The Russet 

market gradually climbed and ended the 

shipping season mid-May at $2.00-2.25. At 

the same time, the first F.O.B. Shipping 

Point Prices for storage Round White U.S. 

One size A 10-pound open-window sacks 

loose ranged from $1.80-2.00. It continued 

to be difficult for Round White growers to 

receive nearly the same returns for Russet 

varieties, and maintain reasonable shelf 

space at the retailers. Some new outlets 

were discovered during the latter winter 

months as Eastern White supplies were 

shorter than normal. By mid-March, Round 

White supplies were in few hands with the 

last reported prices from $2.00-2.15 for size 

A 10-pound open window sacks, compared 

to last season’s final prices of mostly $2.15-

2.25 per ten. 

Stocks on Hand: According to NASS, 

Michigan’s stocks on hand December 1, 

2011 totaled 8.9 million cwt, compared to 

9.3 million cwt the previous year. This 

represented 57 percent of the crop year’s 

production, and was at the lowest level in 

many years. Approximately 88 percent of 

the December 1 stocks on hand were Round 

White varieties, 11 percent Russets, and 1 

percent Red varieties. The April 1 holdings 

of 1.6 million cwt were down sharply (-30 

percent) from the previous year (2.3 million 

cwt) and accounted for 11 percent of the 

year’s production. 

Packaging: The 10-pound open-window 

sack loose paper sack for Round White 

varieties remained the standard package 

while the 10-pound film bag loose for 

Russet varieties (notably Norkotah and 

Goldrush) was predominant, although a few 

chain stores have moved to 8-pound bags. 

Tote bags gained popularity this season, 

particularly the latter half of the shipping 

season. A few growers shipped Round 

White varieties to eastern and southern 

destinations during the latter half of the 

season, as White varieties were scarce due to 

shortages from eastern growing regions of 

the country. A few growers packed Russet 

cartons during the entire season to help fill 

demand for larger sizes. 

Transportation: Trucking was easily 

handled except for a tight supply near winter 

holiday promotions. Most of the table stock 

delivered to nearby or overnight destinations 

with little problems. 
23 

MICHIGAN CHIPPING POTATOES

2011 CROP

Production: Michigan growers harvested 

44,000 acres, 500 additional acres above 

the past two seasons, while production 

slipped 3 percent to nearly 15.2 million cwt 

(15.7 million cwt the previous two seasons). 

Yields also declined to 345 cwt per acre 

from the record-setting 360 cwt per acre 

the past 2 years. Contracted chip acreage 

across the State was reported by industry 

officials as slightly higher than the previous 

season. Industry contacts estimated that 

approximately 30,000 acres were devoted to 

chip stock. According to NASS, 90 percent 

of the December 1 stocks on hands were 

Round White varieties, heavily devoted to 

chipping acreage. The average price for the 

season totaled $11.60 per cwt, a .70 cent 

increase from the previous year ($10.90) 

with the value of production of $176 million 

dollars ($170 million dollars in 2010). 

Nationally, potatoes used for chips and 

shoestrings totaled 58.6 million cwt in 2011, 

an 8 percent increase from the 2010 total of 

54.5 million cwt. 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Cool and 

wet conditions delayed most planting until 

early May. Unsettled weather with scattered 

showers resulted in prolonged delays for 

most of the month. By the end of the 

month, 82 percent of the crop was planted, 

although there were concerns that some of 

the crop would be lost due to excessive 

moisture. Emergence was very slow; only 

21 percent compared to 62 percent the 

previous season and the 5 year average of 48 

percent at the end of the month. Most of 

the planting had been completed by the 

middle of June. Soils began to dry by midJune, and the mean temperatures across the 

state during July were 3.7 degrees above 

normal, which was the warmest July on 

record since 1955. High temperatures 

reached or exceeded 90 degrees on as many 

as 15 days in some southerly locations. 

Total precipitation averaged Statewide for 

the month was 2.99 inches. August 

continued to be generally warmer than 

normal with rainfall totals less than 1 inch 

over portions of upper Central Michigan, to 
24 

more than 5 inches in locations in the 

Central Lower Peninsula. Following a 

brief heat wave in early September, frosts 

and freezing temperatures arrived in 

portions of the state mid-month. Another 

extended period of warm, dry weather was 

prevalent the first half of October; however, 

the last week of October brought rainy days 

and hard freezes across much of the state. 

Daily harvest and drying hours were sharply 

reduced, and the remaining chip acreage was 

harvested into the first half of November. 

Marketing: There was little open market 

trading during the 2011 season. Chip 

contracts were generally stable around the 

State, with field and storage contracts up .50 

cents from the previous season with most 

companies. Some companies offered higher 

volume to growers; however, most were 

unable or unwilling to find additional seed 

or ground for more acreage. There was 

only a slight increase in State acreage 

devoted to chipping varieties in 2011. 

Predominant varieties included Atlantic, 

Snowden, Pike and FL numbered varieties. 

Shipments began the end of July, with peak 

out of the field supplies mid-August through 

mid-September. 

Movement to storage was active from midSeptember through early November, with 

the biggest shipping months OctoberDecember and March 2012. The season 

ended a few weeks earlier than usual on 

June 1 with 9.9 million cwt shipped for the 

2011 season, slightly behind the previous 

year’s finish of 10 million cwt. There was 

little open market trading as some growers 

fell slightly short of expected yields. 

Stocks on Hand: According to NASS, 

Michigan’s stocks on hand December 1, 

2011 totaled 8.9 million cwt, compared to 

9.3 million cwt the previous year. This 

represented 57 percent of the crop year’s 

production, and was at the lowest level in 

many years. Approximately 88 percent of 

the December 1 stocks on hand were Round 

White varieties, 11 percent Russets, and 1 

percent Red varieties. The April 1 holdings 

of 1.6 million cwt. were down sharply (-

30%) from the previous year (2.3 million 

cwt.) and accounted for 11 percent of the 

year’s production. 
25 

MARKETING BIG LAKE & CENTRAL MINNESOTA POTATO 

2011 CROP

Acreage & Production: National 

Agricultural Statistics Service reported 

planted acreage for all of Minnesota at 

49,000 acres in 2011, compared to 45,000 

acres in 2010, 47,000 acres in 2009; and 

42,000 acres compared to 45,000 acres 

harvested in 2009. 

Growing Regions: The Big Lake and 

Central Minnesota District stretches from 

the Big Lake area (Sherburne County) in the 

south to Long Prairie, Little Falls, Perham, 

Bemidji, Trail and Red Lake areas in Central 

Minnesota. 

Weather and Crop Condition: By the last 

week of March, abnormally warm 

temperatures across the State had melted 

much of the snow cover and triggered 

flooding in many areas. By week ending 

May 9, 2011 Minnesota producers exploited 

a small break in the cold, wet weather 

pattern and made planting progress. 

According to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota 

Field Office potatoes were 40 percent 

planted across the state compared to 78 

percent just one year ago. 

Harvest: Light harvest activity of Round 

Reds started week ending September 30, 

2011. Most growers of Round Reds had 

finished digging by mid-September with 

minimal weather delays during harvest. 

The peat soil area around Gully, MN 

finished harvesting Round Reds around midOctober. A few Russets were still being 

harvested and put into storage for shipping 

in the Thanksgiving market into late 

October. Peat soil Reds were also put into 

storage and shipped into early February. 

Shipments: Recorded shipments of Round 

Reds and Russets for the season totaled 

1,761,371 cwt in 2011 compared to 

1,797,750 cwt in 2010, 697,957 cwt in 2009 

and 2,159,500 cwt in 2008. The Idaho Falls, 

Idaho, USDA Market News Service 

collected shipments through the voluntary 

cooperation of individual shippers. All 

shipments were transported by truck. 

Shipments of Round Reds started week 

ending July 30, and peaked in August during 

week ending August 13 with 197,930 cwt. 

Shipments of Russets started week ending 

August 6 and finished for the most part in 

mid-October week ending October 15; a few 

Russets were stored and marketed in 

November for the Thanksgiving market. 

Volume shipments continued through week 

ending October 15, then declined seasonally 

with light shipments continuing out of the 

peat soil storage area until the last potato 

was shipped on week-ending February 11, 

2012 compared to March 19, 2011 and 

February 27, 2010. 

Marketing: The Big Lake and Central 

Minnesota marketing of Round Reds started 

week ending August 6, 2011 compared to 

July 31, 2010. Shipping point prices for 

Round Reds U.S. One size A in 50-pound 

cartons, at $17.50. Prices finished at 

$26.00-27.50 week ending September 17. 

Russet Norkotah were not reported by the 

Idaho Falls, Idaho, USDA Market News 

Service. The Big Lake area has few Russets 

and a short window when they are all 

running. Not enough shippers were running 

at any one time to establish a market. 

The National Agricultural Statistics Service, 

in their 2011 Summary, reported Average 

Price Received for Minnesota potatoes 

including Processing and Fresh was $9.60 

in 2011, compared to $7.30 in 2010 and 

$7.60 in 2009. 

Packaging: The major packs for Round 

Red potatoes were 2000-pound tote bags. 

This package is used by shippers as the base 

price for pricing size A 50-pound paper 

sacks, 50-pound cartons, and 10 and 5-

pound film bags. The packaging for 

Norkotah was size A and non-size A in tote 

bags approximately 2000 pound sacks, 10-

pound and 5-pound film bags; 50-pound 

cartons of count size potatoes. 
26 

MARKETING RED RIVER VALLEY POTATOES 

2011 CROP

Acreage & Production: 

STATE CROP 

YEAR 

ACRES 

PLANTED

ACRES 

HARVESTED

YIELD 

CWT 

PRODUCTION 

CWT 

MINNESOTA 

2007 52,000 49,000 440 21,560,000 

2008 50,000 48,000 425 20,400,000 

2009 47,000 45,000 460 20,700,000 

2010 45,000 42,000 405 17,010,000 

2011 49,000 47,000 355 16,885,000 

 NORTH DAKOTA

2007 97,000 91,000 260 23,660,000 

2008 82,000 81,000 280 22,680,000 

2009 83,000 75,000 255 19,125,000 

2010 84,000 80,000 275 22,000,000 

2011 84,000 77,000 245 18,865,000 

Weather and Crop Conditions: By the 

last week of April the USDA, National 

Agricultural Statistics Service reported: The 

average starting date for fieldwork was 

expected to be May 6. This date is eighteen 

days later than last year and fifteen days 

behind the five-year (2006-2010) average. 

The expected starting dates across the region 

ranged from May 2 in the south to May 9 in 

the north. The wet spring weather continued 

in the form of scattered rain, freezing rain, 

and snow. Warmer, dry weather over the 

weekend brought some relief, however, 

flooding remained a major concern for many 

producers. Topsoil moisture supplies were 

rated 47 percent adequate and 53 surplus 

while subsoil moisture supplies were rated 

53 percent adequate and 47 surplus. Warm 

dry weather was needed before significant 

progress could be made planting potatoes. 

May 16: potatoes were 3 percent planted, 

compared to 2 percent just one week prior, 

63 percent one year ago, and 47 percent of 

the (2006-2010) average. As of June 12, 

potato growers had planted 82 percent of the 

crop, compared to 100 percent at this point 

last year and 97 percent average. Potatoes 

were 25 percent emerged. As of June 19, the 

2011 crop was 95 percent planted and 54 

percent emerged. By August 22, growers 

were beginning to kill vine throughout the 

region. By September 6, potato harvest had 

begun in earnest, with one percent of the 

crop harvested. As of September 25, 92 

percent of potatoes had vines killed and 27 

percent were dug. By October 9, 82 percent 

had been harvested. On October 17, 95 

percent had been dug and harvest was all but 

over. 

Marketing: The first report of the season 

was issued the week ending September 17, 

2011 and the last report of the season was 

May 5, 2012. Prices for tote bags, 

approximately 2000 pounds per cwt, size A 

Round Reds U.S. One opened at $28.00 per 

cwt compared to $30.00-32.00 per cwt in 

2010, $13.00-14.00 in 2009. Tote bags 

finished the season at $10.00-13.00 
27 

compared to 18.50-19.00 per cwt in 2010, 

and $15.00-16.00 in 2009. 

The customary trade practice in this district 

is to use the tote bags approximately 2000 

pounds per cwt size A for Round Reds U.S. 

One as a base price. Baled 10-pound film 

bags were usually up-charged $4.00 per cwt 

premium and 5-pound film bags up-charged 

$5.00 per cwt from the tote price. 50-pound 

paper sacks were $2.00 per cwt over the tote 

base price and 50-pound cartons $5.00. 

AVERAGE PRICE PAID TO GROWER 

 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 

Minnesota All $6.10 $8.25 $7.70 $7.30 $9.60 

 

 North Dakota 

All $6.90 $8.30 $9.45 $8.75 $9.20 

Fresh $8.70 $14.90 $10.10 $13.00 $15.80 

Processing $6.40 $6.80 $9.25 $7.35 $7.40 

Shipments: Daily shipments were collected 

with the voluntary cooperation of the Red 

River Valley shippers by Idaho Falls, Idaho, 

Market News Service. Fresh market 

shipments of Round Reds began week 

ending September 3, 2011 compared to 

August 14, 2010 and continued into the 

week ending June 30, 2012 compared to 

June 25, 2011 last season. Fresh shipments 

totaled 2,997,377cwt for the 2011 crop 

compared to 3,380,323 cwt in 2010, 

3,183,866 cwt in 2009 and 4,084,000 cwt 

for the 2008 and 3,911,600 cwt for the 2007 

season. The Holiday Season showed some 

increases in shipments from other weeks. 

The week ending November 19 had 

shipments totaling 132,172 in 2011 

compared to 153,261 cwt in 2010, 133,370 

cwt in 2009. Three other holidays saw a 

jump in shipments Christmas with week 

ending December 17 at 107,847 cwt 

compared to 135,108 cwt in 2010. Martin 

Luther King’s Birthday January 14 at 96,661 

cwt compared to 143,573 cwt in 2010, and 

Easter week ending March 10 at 124,106 

compared to 131,135 cwt in 2010. 

(MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA) RED RIVER VALLEY 

CWT CROP YEAR Round Red Yellow Type Mixed Red/Yellow Rail TOTAL 

RRV 

2010 3,162,245 68,303 15,933 4,242 129,600 2,829,345 

2011 2,858,566 78,511 0 0 60,300 2,997,377 

Transportation Trends: The Valley often 

experiences more transportation problems 

than most other shipping areas because of its 

location and the lack of back hauls. Most 

trucks originate out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

The truck shortages that other segments of 

the produce industry experienced this year 

also plagued the Red River Valley. FritoLay hauls massive amounts of chippers out 

of State during harvest and the largest turkey 

producing area in the nation is just over the 

North Dakota border into Central 

Minnesota. These two commodities take 

many trucks from the potato shippers. 

Trucks were in tight supply by late-October 

and shortages continued through the month 

of December. 
28 

MARKETING LONG ISLAND POTATOES

2011 CROP

Statistics: According to the New York 

Agricultural Statistics Service, New York 

growers planted 16,500 acres of potatoes for 

the 2011 season, 300 more acres for the 

previous season. Harvested acreage totaled 

16,200 acres, 200 more than the record low 

2010 season. However, production 

decreased to a record low 4.050 million 

cwt, 21 percent below the 2010 crop 

(5.120), with an average lower yield of 250 

cwt, down from the previous seasons’ 

record-breaking yield of 320 cwt for the 

2010 season. Unofficial sources reported 

estimated planted acreage of potatoes of 

near 2,500 acres on Eastern Long Island. 

According to NASS, the average price for 

2011 in New York totaled $15.70, an 

increase of $2.20 over the previous season 

($13.50) while the value of production 

totaled $63.5 million dollars for the entire 

State (last year $69.1 million). 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Planting 

got underway the latter half of April due to 

cool temperatures and wet conditions. 

Scattered spring rains continued throughout 

the planting time, and continued through 

June with plenty of moisture and cloudy 

days reported. Oppressive heat occurred 

during the latter half of July, while a series 

of low pressure systems moved through the 

region during August, which triggered 

seasonable temperatures and scattered 

showers. A slow moving low pressure 

system brought heavy rainfall to the Island 

along with numerous power outages in late 

August, and the aftermath of Hurricane 

Irene and Tropical Depression Lee affected 

harvest well into September. A few 

growers began light harvest for local 

deliveries in early August as frequent rain 

delays during the harvest of the nearby 

Delaware crop opened a window of 

opportunity to move some potatoes early. 

Frequent rain delays during harvest slowed 

progress and most growers finished near the 

end of October. 

Marketing Season: The first F.O.B. 

Shipping Point prices of the 2011 season 

were established by the Market News 

Service during the last week of August. 

Round White U.S. One 50-pound sacks

size A sold for $13.00, much higher than the 

previous two seasons’ start when 50s were 

reported from mostly $7.00-7.50. Large 

size offerings sold from $14.75-15.00 at the 

onset, also much higher than the 2010 
29 

later start of $9.50-10.00 in midSeptember. Baled 10 5-pound sacks were 

much stronger early in the season with 

prices ranging from $15.25-15.75, compared 

to $9.25-9.50 the previous season start. By 

October 1st, prices had dropped $5.00 cwt. 

November prices slipped again as 50-pound 

sacks size A were reported from mostly 

$9.00-9.50 ($18-19 cwt) and large size 

$10.00-11.00 ($20-22 cwt), while baled 5s 

sold from mostly $11.00-12.00 ($22-24 

cwt). Nevertheless, market prices had 

maintained a slight increase above the 2010 

season prices, when size A 50s brought 

mostly $7.25 ($14.50 cwt.) and baled 5s sold 

from $8.75-9.50 per unit. Trading was fairly 

slow for most of the Long Island shipping 

season. Mid-November brought an uptick in 

demand due to the Thanksgiving holiday, 

but demand dropped quickly after the 

promotional rush. Prices remained fairly 

stable the rest of the shipping season in midto-late January 2012. The final prices of the 

season finished with size A 50s from $8.50-

9.00 and large mostly $9.50-10.00, with 

baled 5s from mostly $11.00-12.00. 

Movement: Although a few growers began 

packing earlier than normal, initial 

movement in August and September was 

only moderate, in contrast with the previous 

crop year, which began at a record pace. 

Peak volume (43 percent of the season) was 

shipped during November and December. 

Supplies began to tighten in December and 

by January, the remaining spuds were held 

in a few growers’ hands. The final 

movement report of the 2011 season was 

issued the end of February 2012 with 

nearly 1,315 loads recorded. The final 

total for the 2010 season was issued at the 

end of January 2011 with approximately 

1,400 loads shipped. 

Stocks: Stocks on hand December 1, 2011 

for New York totaled 2.1 million cwt., 

down 16 percent from the previous season 

total of 2.5 million cwt. Stocks on hand by 

variety were: Round White 93 percent, 

Round Red 5 percent and Yellow Type 2 

percent. Total storage accounted for 52 

percent of the potato crop, a slight increase 

from the prior year (49 percent). 

Packaging: The major pack on the island 

remained the 50-pound sack. Some growers 

packed baled 10 5-pound film bags for 

Eastern chain store promotions during the 

fall months. Growers and brokers delivered 

to re-packers and wholesalers in New York 

City, Florida and North Carolina, and large 

size potatoes to foodservice accounts along 

the East Coast. 
30 

NEW YORK CHIPPING POTATOES

2011 CROP

Statistics: According to the New York 

Agricultural Statistics Service, growers 

planted 16,500 acres for the 2011 season, 

up 300 acres from the previous crop year. 

Harvested acres totaled 16,200, just above 

the record low 16,000 acres harvested one 

year earlier. Yields for 2011 of 250 cwt per 

acre were lower than the record 320 cwt per 

acre in 2010. Consequently, record low 

production decreased sharply to 4,050 

million cwt, 21 percent below the 2010 

level. Chipping acreage is located generally 

in Western and Central New York, in 

Steuben, Wyoming, Wayne and Livingston 

counties. Approximately 5,000 acres were 

devoted to chip stock, with primary 

varieties grown Atlantic, Snowden, Andover 

and Marcy. Growers commented that their 

yields came up short to fulfill field contracts, 

with the Andover variety way below normal, 

only averaging 100-120 cwt per acre. 

According to NASS, the average price for 

the 2011 season totaled $15.70 per cwt, a 

healthy increase from the previous season 

($13.50) with the value of production $63.5 

million dollars ($69 million in 2010). 

Nationally, potatoes used for chips and 

shoestrings totaled 58.6 million cwt, up 8 

percent from the 2010 season total of 54.5 

million cwt. 

Growing and Harvest Season: Planting 

was underway at the end of April. Cool, wet 

conditions prevailed for much of the 

planting season, with excessive rains 

delaying planting progress. By the end of 

May, only 58 percent of the crop had been 

planted, compared to the previous season’s 

81 percent and the 5-year average of 80 

percent. Below normal temperatures were 

recorded throughout most of June in the 

planting regions, although planting was 

completed by July 4. Warmer temperatures 

and drier conditions during July spurred 

growth, although by the latter half of the 

month, dry soils and record heat slowed 

tuber development. Light harvesting got 

underway around August 1. Scattered 

showers prevailed in late August with heavy 

showers in the Eastern regions of the State. 

By Labor Day, harvest was 34 percent 

completed, behind the 5-year average of 44 

percent. Much of September saw scattered 

thunderstorms and additional rainfall, 

including some hail and tornado turbulence. 

Tropical Storm Lee dropped heavy showers 

in the central region September 7-8. By 

October 1, harvest was only 59 percent 

completed compared to the five-year 

average of 72 percent. Harvest continued 

into early November. 

Movement: Movement of out-of-the-field 

supplies began on schedule the week of 

August 7 and peaked mid-September to midOctober with less than expected yields. By 

the end of October, 45 percent of the total 

crop had been moved. According to the 

Market News Service, movement for the 

2011 season decreased from the previous 4 

years and totaled 1.9 million cwt, 21 

percent below the previous year’s BIG 

yield (2.4 ‘000 cwt.) and largest reporting 

crop year in recent history. The season 

ended the end of April, 4-5 weeks earlier 

than past season. The major chip buyers in 

New York consisted of Wise Foods, EK 

Bare, Utz Quality Foods, Snyder’s of Berlin, 

Hurst, Pennsylvania Potato Co-op and 

Stowe Potato Sales, as well as several 

smaller regional snack food companies. 

Stocks on hand: New York Agricultural 

Statistics Service reported stocks on hand 

December 1, 2011 totaled 2.1 million cwt, 

down 16 percent from 2.5 million cwt the 

previous year. Storage accounted for 52 

percent of the 2011 crop, up slightly from 

the previous season at 49 percent. By April 

1, 500,000 cwt remained in storage, down 

slightly from the previous season’s stocks on 

hand of 600,000 cwt. This figure 

represented 12 percent of storage potatoes 

for the past two seasons. 
31 

MARKETING EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA POTATOES

2011 CROP

Statistics: Potatoes are generally grown in 

the Coastal Region of North Carolina from 

the Beaufort area north to the Elizabeth City 

area. According to the National Agricultural 

Statistics Service, harvested acreage of 

potatoes totaled 16,500 acres in 2011 

compared to 15,000 acres in 2010 and 

15,000 acres in 2009. Production finished at 

2.81 million pounds compared to 2.92 

million pounds in 2010 and 3.38 million 

pounds in 2009. In 2011 yield was 170 cwt 

per acre compared to 195 cwt in 2010 and 

225 cwt in 2009. 

Movement: According to the Market News 

Service, movement totaled 29.6 million 

pounds of table stock and an additional 

222.0 million pounds of chip potatoes. The 

2011 season started in mid-June, slightly 

earlier than the 2010 season, and wrapped 

up in late July, about the same as the 

previous year. 

Growing and Harvest Season: During the 

months of February and January North 

Carolina received below normal 

precipitation. Average temperatures were 

below normal during January, but by the 

final week of February temperatures were 

above normal, ranging from 45-56 degrees. 

Overall, field work was limited due to 

continued cold, dry weather and winds. 

Spring planting preparations for Irish 

potatoes were not able to get underway until 

the month of March. Statewide soil 

moisture levels were rated at 4 percent very 

short, 18 percent short, 72 percent adequate 

and 6 percent surplus. Planting wrapped up 

the week ending April 10 with 97 percent of 

the crop planted compared to 98 percent in 

2010 and 97 percent for the five year 

average. Throughout much of the growing 

season the State experienced below normal 

precipitation and above normal temperatures 

causing stress to most crops. The week 

ending May 29 Irish potato crop conditions 

were rated as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent 

poor, 15 percent fair, 79 percent good, and 2 

percent excellent by the USDA, NASS 

North Carolina Field Office. Harvest began 
32 

in late June. By the week ending June 26, 

54 percent of the crop had been harvested 

compared to 37 percent in 2010. By July 

24, 100 percent of the Irish potato crop had 

been harvested compared to 99 percent in 

2010 and 96 percent for the five year 

average. 

Marketing Season: Prices this season for 

Round White U.S. No. One, size A 50-

pound sacks were higher than the previous 

year. The first F.O.B. price report was on 

June 20, 2011. Round White U.S. No. One, 

size A 50-pound sacks were $12.00 

compared to the first price report of $7.00-

8.00 in 2010. The last prices reported were 

on July 14, 2011 at $10.00-11.00 compared 

to $6.00-8.00 in 2010. The first F.O.B. price 

report for Round White U.S. No. One, size 

A tote bags approximately 2,000 pounds per 

hundredweight was on June 21, 2011 and 

ranged $20.00-22.00 compared to $14.00-

18.00 in 2010. The last prices reported were 

on July 14, 2011 at $20.00-22.00. This 

compared to $12.00-14.00 in 2010. The first 

F.O.B. prices this season for Round Red 

U.S. No. One, size A and size B, 50-pound 

sacks were reported on June 28, 2011. 

Round Red U.S. No. One, size A 50-pound 

sacks were $16.00-20.00; size B were 

$17.00. The last prices reported were on 

July 14, 2011 at $16.00-20.00; size B 

$17.00. The first F.O.B. price report for 

Round Red U.S. No. One, size A tote bags 

approximately 2,000 pounds per 

hundredweight was on June 28, 2011 and 

ranged $30.00-34.00 compared to $26.00-

30.00 in 2010. The last prices reported were 

on July 14, 2011 at $30.00-34.00. This 

compared to $30.00 in 2010. The first 

F.O.B. prices this season for 50-pound sacks 

of Yellow Type U.S. No. One, size A, were 

reported on July 1, 2011; size B were 

reported on July 7, 2011. Yellow Type, 

U.S. No. One, size A, 50-pound sacks were 

$21.00-24.00; size B were $12.00. The last 

prices reported were on July 14, 2011 at 

$21.00-24.00; size B $12.00. The first 

F.O.B. price report for Yellow Type U.S. 

No. One, size A tote bags approximately 

2,000 pounds per hundredweight was on 

July 1, 2011 and ranged $42.00-46.00. The 

last prices reported were on July 14, 2011 at 

$36.00-42.00. Chip Potatoes are sold bulk 

per hundredweight and were marketed in 

2011 generally on a contract basis. The 

contract price on Round White Atlantics 

85% or better U.S. No. One bulk per cwt 

was $9.50-10.25 compared to $9.50-10.00 in 

2010. No open market prices were reported 

to the Market News Service. 
33 

OHIO CHIPPING POTATOES

2011 CROP

Statistics: Ohio growers planted 2,000 

acres in 2011, 200 less than 2010 and 300 

less than in 2009. Harvested potato acreage 

dropped to 1,700 acres, down 400 acres the 

last two seasons, according to the Ohio 

Agricultural Statistics Service. This low 

figure again set a new record low number 

of harvested acres in the State since 

record-keeping began in 1866. Yield 

decreased and was recorded at 250 cwt per 

acre, down from 290 cwt per acre one year 

earlier, and a 25 percent drop from the 

record-setting high in 2009 (335 cwt per 

acre). Production fell 25 percent to 

459,000 cwt from last season’s 609,000 cwt. 

The predominant growing areas in the State 

were western Ohio, from Findlay north to 

Toledo and south of Cleveland and in the 

Wooster area. According to NASS, the 

average price for the 2011 calendar year 

remained the same as the previous year at 

$12.30 per cwt, with the value of production 

of $5.6 million dollars ($7.5 million dollars 

in 2010). 

Movement: The 2011 State’s chipping 

potato movement dropped sharply to only 

56,114 cwt. for the season, down 62 percent 

from the previous season total of 148,434 

cwt, according to the Market News Service. 

Contracts were only for field supplies, with 

few supplies meant for storage. The season 

got underway in early August and was 

completed by the end of December 2011, 

several weeks ahead of the normal finishing 

time in mid-March. No open market sales 

were reported during the season as growers 

grew only previously contracted volume. 

Growing Season: Planting got a later than 

normal start mid-April, due to cool 

temperatures and wet field conditions. By 

the end of the month, only 4 per cent of the 

crop had been planted, compared to 47 

percent the previous year and 37 percent for 

the five-year average. Warmer temperatures 

slowly arrived in mid-May, although excess 

moisture continued to slow field activity. 

Continued wet conditions plagued planting 

progress the rest of the month; only 40 

percent of potatoes had been planted at 

month’s end, compared to 78 percent the 

previous year and the five-year average of 

83 percent. Planting continued the rest of 

June with adequate moisture and average 

temperatures, several days later than a 

normal season. A prolonged heat wave 

occurred much of July, and a few growers 

began early harvest towards the end of the 

month. 

Harvesting Season: Initial harvest was 

underway the latter half of July, under a 

prolonged heat wave. Scattered showers 

during the latter half of August brought 

some welcome relief to warm temperatures. 

Potatoes harvested rose to 39 percent, 

compared to 59 percent the previous year 

and the 5-year average of 33 percent. 

September and October showers again 

slowed the harvest. By mid-October, 95 

percent of the harvest was completed. 
34 

PENNSYLVANIA CHIPPING POTATOES

2011 CROP

Statistics: Pennsylvania harvested 7,800 

acres of potatoes, 1,200 acres less than the 

previous season and another record for the 

lowest harvested acreage on record, 

according to the Pennsylvania Agricultural 

Statistics Service. Planted acreage totaled 

9,200 acres, 300 and 800 acres less than the 

previous two seasons. Approximately 3,000 

acres were planted in chipping potatoes, 

with the predominant plantings in the 

Northwestern, East Central and Central 

districts of the state. Production of 2

million cwt dropped 9 percent (2.2 million 

cwt) from the previous crop year and 39 

percent (2.9 million cwt) from the 2009 

season. Yields for 2011 of 260 cwt per 

acre were also down 15 cwt from the 

previous season and dropped sharply from 

the record yield of 310 cwt per acre in 2009. 

Predominant chipping varieties grown were 

Atlantic, Snowden, Pike, Andover and 

Marcy. According to NASS, the average 

price received for the 2011 calendar year 

potato crop was $12.10 cwt, the same as the 

previous year, while the value of production 

totaled $24.5 million dollars for the year, 

down 8 percent from the 2010 season total 

of $26.6 million dollars. 

Growing Season: Planting was underway 

by near the end of April; however, heavy 

Spring rains slowed progress. By mid-May, 

only 30 percent of planting had been 

completed, compared to 84 percent the 

previous year and the 5-year average of 72 

percent. Showers continued through the 

month. Planting continued into the latter 

half of June, well behind a normal schedule. 

Drier weather and warm temperatures 

boosted tuber development. Hot, dry 

conditions prevailed during July, while 

August brought scattered showers, warm 

temperatures and hail storms. The impact of 

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm late in 

August brought record-breaking flooding 

that destroyed some potato fields and 

significantly reduced the crop. 

Harvesting Season: Light harvest of field 

supplies began the first week of August. By 

the week ending September 11, 29 percent 

of the crop had been harvested, behind a 

year ago (25 percent) and the five-year 

average of 37 percent. Little progress was 

made the rest of the month due to wet fields, 

as between 20-30 inches was recorded for 

the month. Flash flooding occurred in 

early October in major production areas 

along the Susquehanna River Valley. 

Harvest slowed due to wet fields, scattered 

frosts well into early November. Some of 

the crop was left in the fields. 

Shipments peaked with field supplies late 

August through mid-October. The shipping 

season concluded earlier than normal and 

was completed mid-March with a total of 

595,937 cwt, a steep decline of 35 percent 

from the previous year (909,930 cwt) 

according to the Market News Service. This 

was the State’s smallest potato crop on 

record. There were no open market prices 

reported this year as most growers planted 

for contracted sales only. 
35 

MARKETING COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTONUMATILLA BASIN OREGON POTATOES

2011 CROP

Acreage & Production: According to the 

National Agricultural Statistics Service, 

Washington planted acreage was 160,000 

acres in 2011, a 19 percent increase from 

2010s 135,000 acres. Washington’s yield 

per acre in 2011 was 610 hundredweight 

(cwt), an 8 percent decrease from 2010s 

yield of 660 cwt. Washington’s production 

in 2011 was 97,600,000 cwt, a 10 percent 

increase from 2010s production of 

88,440,000 cwt. Umatilla Basin Oregon 

planted & harvested acreage was 10,600 

acres in 2011, a 6 percent increase from 

2010s planted and harvested acreage of 

10,000. Umatilla Basin Oregon’s yield in 

2011 was 619 cwt per acre, a 5 percent 

decrease from 2010s yield of 650 cwt per 

acre. Umatilla Basin Oregon’s production 

in 2011 was 6,561,000 cwt, a slight increase 

from 2010s production of 6,500,000 cwt. 

Shipments: Shipments for the 2011 season 

for Columbia Basin Washington were 

8,540,000 cwt, of which 1,874,000 cwt 

were exports. This was an 8 percent 

increase from 2010s shipments of 7,871,000 

cwt, of which 1,506,000 cwt were exports. 

Shipments for the 2010 season for Umatilla 

Basin Oregon were 1,979,000 cwt, of which 

287,000 cwt were exports. This was a 7 

percent increase from 2010s shipments of 

1,854,000 cwt, of which 322,000 cwt were 

exports. 

The peak shipping month was August 2011 

with 1,389,000 cwt shipped for the 

Columbia Basin Washington, and July 2012 

with 215,000 cwt shipped for Umatilla 

Basin Oregon. 

Crop & Weather: In the Columbia Basin, 

typical January weather prevailed with 

night-time temperatures below freezing and 

thawing during the days. Temperatures for 

the month of February in Franklin County 

were at times normal, above normal, with a 

record high on February 12, 2011 of 66 

degrees, and a few days the end of the 

month at below normal. There was some 

tractor and implement readying at the far 

south-end of the County for early potatoes. 

Planting got underway in March in several 

eastern counties. Thirteen percent of the 

crop was planted compared to 14 percent in 

2010. Farming activity in Franklin County 

began feverishly, with the ground being 

worked up for potatoes. In Grant County, 

planting was expected to begin in the 

southern portions of the County. 

During the weekending April 3, planting 

was delayed due to unseasonable cool and 

wet conditions throughout the State. The 

average daily temperatures the first full 

week of April was 4-5 degrees below 

normal Statewide. Planting was halfway 

complete in Benton and Franklin Counties. 

In mid-April, the crop began to emerge 

slightly ahead of last year’s pace. Weather 

in Franklin County was another week of 

below normal temperatures and light 

showers. Several mornings the temperatures 

dipped into the upper 20s. Normal 

fieldwork and crop planting continued 

throughout the week. In Grant County, 

planting was underway. Walla Walla 

County saw lots of wind accompanied by on 

and off rains. A little drying on the surface 

allowed fieldwork to begin. Temperatures 

were very mild to cooler than normal for the 

week. Planting was late for the year and 

crop’s growth was well behind schedule. 

During the weekending April 24, Franklin 

County temperatures were cooler than 

normal all week with every morning below 

freezing. There was only a trace of 

precipitation with several strong gusty days. 

Potatoes were slowly emerging, due to the 

cold temperatures. Walla Walla County saw 

dry, windy weather which brought on a 

flurry of fieldwork. However, many places 

were still too wet to get much planted. 

There were a couple days that were below 

freezing and growers worried that it could 

affect some crops. By the end of April, 

potatoes were 75 percent planted compared 

to 79 percent in 2010. There was 9 percent 

emergence compared to 14 percent in 2010. 

By mid-May, planting in the central counties 

was very close to completion. During 

weekending May 22, potatoes were really 

starting to come up in Franklin County. In 

Klickitat County, a late frost came early in 

the week when the low dipped into the upper 

20s. Some home gardeners saw early 

potatoes burned by the frost. By the end of 

the month, 94 percent of the crop had been 

planted and 50 percent had emerged. 
36 

Planting was generally complete in the 

Columbia Basin in mid-June. By the end of 

June, potato rows were hilled in Klickitat 

County home gardens. 

Light harvest began during the weekending 

July 10. In Franklin County, some of the 

acreage was killed in preparation for 

digging. In Klickitat County, rows were 

blooming in home gardens. Mid-July saw 

harvest begin in Benton and Franklin 

Counties. By the end of July, Columbia 

Basin harvest was 9 percent complete 

compared to 14 percent in 2010. 

Harvest made progress the first week of 

August in Franklin and Benton Counties at 

about 15 percent harvested. In Franklin 

County, the area received no rain and 

generally all sunshine with warm to hot 

days. The crop looked good in Walla Walla 

County. Weather in the Columbia Basin 

remained hot and dry throughout August 

which was ideal for harvest. By the end of 

the month, harvest was 31 percent complete 

compared to 28 percent in 2010. 

The hot, dry conditions continued into 

September. During the weekending 

September 11, Franklin County harvest was 

about 40 percent complete. In midSeptember, Klickitat County had an 

abundance of root crops, including potatoes 

that were ready for harvest and storage. The 

weekending September 25 saw the biggest 

jump in harvest in several weeks (15 

percent) and 56 percent of the crop was 

harvested. The last week of September 

found harvest at 63 percent complete. In 

Franklin County, potatoes were harvested 

with exceptional weather to do so. Harvest 

was in full-swing in Grant County. In 

Kittitas County, potatoes were still being 

harvested but growers wanted to finish up 

fairly soon as the weather pattern was 

expected to change with a fairly significant 

low pressure system moving in with 

measurable rain. 

Harvest progressed nicely and was nearly 80 

percent complete the first part of October. It 

continued through the month and into 

November. It was generally complete midNovember. 

In the Umatilla Basin in Oregon, warm, wet 

weather prevailed the end of March, but it 

was nothing too out of the ordinary. Cool, 

wet conditions continued through April with 

a few warmer, drier days appearing the end 

of the month and the first of May. Weather 

finally started to warm up mid-May. 

However, wet, cold, and rainy condition 

returned during the weekending May 22. 

Planting and maturity for spring planted 

crops were still behind schedule. 

The area started to get warmer weather midJune. Even though the temperatures were 

warming up, the rain still plagued growers. 

Finally by the end of June, conditions were 

both warmer and drier. 

Early harvest began the first of July. 

Potatoes were in good condition in midAugust. Hot weather with almost no 

precipitation the third week of August 

announce the very late arrival of summer to 

the Umatilla Basin. Harvest continued with 

average yields. Harvest continued through 

September and into the very beginning of 

October with summer-like conditions. Fall 

conditions prevailed during the weekending 

October 9 with cooler temperatures and rain 

throughout the week. Harvest continued 

through October with cool, fall-like 

temperatures and rain. Harvest was 

generally complete by the end of October. 

 

Marketing: The first report of Round Reds 

was issued during the weekending July 23, 

2011. 50-pound cartons of U.S. One size A 

was $16.00-18.00. The last report was 

issued during the weekending August 20, 

2011 at $16.00-18.00.

The first report of Yellow Type was issued 

during weekending July 23, 2011. 50-pound 

cartons of U.S. One size A was $18.00. The 

last report was issued the weekending 

August 20, 2011 at $18.00. 

The first report of Russet Norkotahs was 

issued during the weekending August 6, 

2011. 50-pound cartons of U.S. One 70s 

was $20.00. The last report was issued 

during the weekending July 21, 2012 at $ 

7.00. 
37 

MARKETING NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON POTATOES

2011 CROP

Production: 

Weather and Crop Conditions: By the end 

of May...with more rain on the way, it was 

shaping up to be the worst year for the 

Skagit Valley. The by the end of June 

conditions were hot and dry and rain was 

needed in order to keep the irrigators in the 

barn for another week. Then late July rolled 

in and crops are looking really good right 

now considering the spring and non-summer 

we have been having. Crops were 3 weeks 

behind schedule. By late August a timely 

rain was received and heavy dew in the 

mornings helped to add much needed 

moisture to the dry conditions. By late 

Potatoes: Acreage, Yield, & Production, By Counties, Washington, 2010-2011 

County and District 

2010 2011 

Planted Harvested Yield Production Planted Harvested Yield Production

Acres Cwt Acres Cwt 

COU NTY 

Adams 

Benton 

Franklin 32,700 32,600 712 23,204,000 

Grant 34,000 33,900 690 23,391,000 43,000 43,000 580 24,933,000

Lincoln 

Skagit 8,100 7,300 390 2,845,000 9,500 9,500 352 3,343,000 

Walla Walla 

Whatcom 

Yakima 

Other Counties 60,200 60,200 648 39,000,000 107,500 107,500 645 69,324,000

DISTRICT 

West 10,600 9,800 388 3,800,000 12,500 12,500 355 4,438,000 

Central 

Northeast 

East Central 92,000 91,800 675 62,000,000 105,500 105,500 601 63,359,000

Southeast 

Other Districts 32,400 32,400 699 22,640,000 42,000 42,000 710 29,803,000

STATE 

STATE TOTAL 135,000 134,000 660 88,440,000 160,000 160,000 610 97,600,000
38 

September temperatures climbed back up 

into the 80s during the week, along with 

some fog and dew. Cool temperatures and 

heavy rainfall over the weekend convinced 

potato producers that fall had arrived. By 

late October potato harvest was around 95 

percent complete across all regions of the 

state including the Skagit Valley. Then 

November rolled in with unseasonably 

warm temperatures in the latter part of the 

month, which was welcomed by potato 

growers who took advantage of the sunny 

days with no rain to complete fall work and 

prep fields for next year 

Shipments: Round Red is king in Skagit 

County with 961,441 cwt shipped out of the 

total 1,629,109 cwt shipped. Long White 

accounted for 292,776 and Yellow Type 

297,835 cwt. Mount Vernon shippers 

started shipping on week ending September 

17, 2011 and finished on week ending June 

30, 2012. The week ending November 19 

just prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday saw 

the biggest volume shipped at 92,551 cwt. 

Marketing: Long White, Round Red and 

Yellow Type prices were collected starting 

week ending September 24, 2011. Yellow 

Type ended week ending February 11, 2012; 

Round Red ended week ending May 19, 

2012; and Long White ended week ending 

December 17, 2011. 

 

Long Whites: 50-pound carton size A, U.S. 

One opened at $24.00 per carton and closed 

at $20.00-22.00. They never traded lower 

than week ending November 12-December 

17 at $20.00-22.00 and traded highest week 

ending September 24-October 29. 

Round Reds: 50-pound carton size A, U.S. 

One opened at $22.00-24.00 per carton then 

closed at $10.00. They never traded higher 

than the first three weeks and traded lowest 

on the last week. 

Yellow Type: 50-pound carton size A, U.S. 

One opened at $22.00-24.00 per carton 

closed at $16.00-20.00. They never traded 

higher September 24-December 31 and 

traded lowest at the last week. 

Transportation Trends: Piggy-back 

continues to be an alternate method of 

transportation because of the limited 

availability of trucks and rail cars. 

However, piggy-back account for slightly 

less than 5 percent of total shipments. 

Another transportation opportunity for 

Skagit County shippers is Railex with 

Corporate Headquarters in Riverhead, New 

York. The shipping facility is located in 

Pasco, Washington. Railex delivers 

potatoes/produce weekly, coast to coast in 

four days, from Pasco to its Rotterdam, New 

York facility. The Albany, New York area 

is unique in that Railex can service 5 major 

cities in four hours or less. It is extremely 

well served by rail, yet lacks the congestion 

associated with major metropolitan areas. 

This combination makes for a highly 

efficient transfer of goods to market that can 

be coupled with high volume and consistent 

supply through Railex's platform. Mount 

Vernon shippers are indeed pleased with the 

additional opportunity for shipping into the 

lucrative East Coast market. However, 

Market News is unable to report the rail 

shipments out of Skagit County. 

Transportation by truck was extremely 

difficult in 2011. Trucks were extremely 

short and the cost of trucks was also very 

high, but for the most part shippers did not 

have to discount the potato prices to 

accommodate the transportation costs. In 

other words, the customer was willing to pay 

the high price of transportation to get 

“America’s finest potato crop”. 
39 

MARKETING CENTRAL WISCONSIN POTATOES

2011 CROP

Acreage & Production: According to the 

USDA National Agricultural Statistics 

Service, Wisconsin potato planted acreage in 

2011 was 63,000 acres, more than 2010s 

62,500 acres. Harvested acreage in 2011 

was 62,000 acres, more than 2010s 61,500 

acres. Yield per acres was 400 

hundredweight (cwt) in 2011, an increase 

from 2010s yield of 395 cwt. Production in 

2011 was 25,200,000 cwt, a four percent 

increase from 2010s production of 

24,293,000 cwt. 

Shipments: Shipments from Central 

Wisconsin in 2011 were 6,458,000, a five 

percent increase from 2010 shipments of 

6,129,000 cwt. The peak shipping month 

was November at 865,000 cwt. All of the 

potatoes were shipped by truck. There are 

no rail shipments out of Wisconsin. 

Crop & Weather: Wet fields greeted 

producers during the week ending April 11th 

when planting began. Average temperatures 

were 10 degrees below to normal with 1-2 

inches of snow weekending April 18th. 

Sandy soils in the central part of the state 

allowed some planting to continue, but 

winter weather was around through the end 

of the month. Potato planting was reported 

to be late in most areas at the end of April. 

During the first week of May rainfall 

arrived, about 2 inches in many parts of the 

state. Average high temperatures ranged 

from 54-57 degrees by weekending May 2nd

. 

Potato planting continues to progress during 

the week ending May 9th across the northern 

parts of the state. Warmer conditions during 

the week ending May 23 allowed for the 

first signs of emergence with planting in 

northern areas continuing at a good pace. 

The beginning of June saw summer like 

weather and above average temperatures 

helping some producers. By the week 

ending June 20th rainfall covered most of the 

state with some areas getting over 5 inches 

this week. The rain brought cooler 

temperatures throughout the state. The week 

ending June 27 saw cooler temperatures 

again across the state. By the end of June, 

potatoes were blooming and showing good, 

if slow, growth. 

By mid-July, potatoes were doing well with 

a late arriving bloom in most of the central 

part of the state. The wet, cool spring made 

for later than average harvest of all varieties. 

Most of July saw above average high 

temperatures ranged from 79 to 84 degrees, 

with average low temperatures ranging from 

63 to 66 degrees during weekending July 

18th. 

Fresh potato harvest began in earnest in the 

middle of August. Weekending August 1st

saw rain throughout the state with central 

areas getting 4-6 inches. It wasn’t until 

weekending August 15th that the heat wave 

finally broke a cooler than normal 

temperatures arrived. Harvest continued 

throughout the month of August and into 

September. By weekending September 

11th, harvest was just starting in two westcentral Wisconsin counties, while late 

harvest was underway in the central part of 

the state. Harvest continued through 

weekending October 11th. 

Marketing: The first report of Round Reds 

was issued during the week-ending August 

20, 2011. 50-pound sacks of U.S. One size 

A was $16.00-17.50. The last report was 

issue during the week ending February 18, 

2012 at $12.50-14.00-10.00. 

The first report of Round Whites was issued 

during the week ending August 20, 2011. 

50-pound sacks of U.S. One size A was 

$11.00-11.50. The last report was issued 

during the week ending September 8, 2011 

at $11.00-13.00 with a mostly $11.00-11.50. 

No reports for Yellow Types were issued 

during the 2011 shipping season. 

The first report of Russet Norkotahs was 

issued during the week ending August 20, 

2011. 50-pound cartons of U.S. One 70s 

was $23.00-24.00. The last report was 

issued during the week ending July 7, 2012 

with 50-pound cartons of U.S. One 70s at 

$10.00-11.00, mostly $11.00. 

No prices were issued for chipper potatoes 

in the 2011 season as most movement was 

contracted or open sales were in the hands of 

too few growers, with too few prices 

reported to establish a market.
40 

MARKETING VIRGINIA POTATOES

2011 CROP

Harvesting & Marketing: Harvest of the 

2011 Virginia potato crop began in mid-June 

although supplies were very light until later 

in the month. Virginia Market News 

Service began reporting shipping point 

prices on June 22, 2011 with the first F.O.B. 

Eastern Shore price quoted at $12.00 per 50-

pound sack of Round White, U.S. One, Size 

A potatoes. From the very beginning of the 

harvest, demand was good for Round White 

potatoes due to lighter than normal supplies 

in competing areas. On June 28, 2011 prices 

increased to $13.00 and by the end of the 

month, sales were reported in a range of 

$13.00-14.00. Throughout early July, the 

price was $14.00 before increasing again in 

the middle of the month. On July 18, 2011 

the price increased to $15.00 per 50-pound 

sack. The last reported price was on July 

25, 2011. By July 26, supplies were light 

and in too few hands to report as practically 

all growers had finished harvesting. Market 

conditions for Virginia Round White 

potatoes were excellent in 2011. The major 

reason for the improved market conditions 

for Virginia potatoes was a significant 

decrease in supplies of storage potatoes 

combined with problems and harvest delays 

in many competing spring and summer 

growing areas. 

Prices for the large 23⁄4 to 41⁄2 inch “Chef” 

Round White potatoes were first reported on 

June 22, 2011 at $15.00 per 50-pound sack. 

Prices increased to $16.00 on June 28, 2011 

as demand was good. Chef prices remained 

at $16.00 until mid-July when they 

increased to $17.00. The final reported 

price was $17.00 per 50-pound sack on July 

25, 2011. 

Russet potatoes continue to be an important 

crop for many Virginia growers. Demand 

for Virginia Russets was generally good 

throughout 2011. 50-pound sacks of Size A 

Russets started the season at $12.00 

compared to mostly $8.00 in 2010 and 

$6.00-8.00 in 2009. Later in the season, 

prices for 50-pound sacks of Size A Russets 

were as high as $15.00. Prices for tote bags 

began the season at $24.00 per 

hundredweight compared to $16.00 per 

hundredweight in 2010 and $10.00-14.00 

per hundredweight in 2009. Throughout 

most of the month of July, Russet tote prices 

were mostly $25.00-27.00 per 

hundredweight before ending the season as 

high as $28.00-30.00. 

Round Red prices were first reported in 

2011 on June 24, 2011 at $16.00 for 50-

pound sacks of U.S. One Size A and $17.00 

for Size B. Demand was good for Red 

potatoes throughout the season. Round Red 

prices increased to $17.00 for Size A and 

$19.00-20.00 for Size B on June 28. By 

June 30, prices increased to $20.00 for Size 

A and $22.00 for Size B. Throughout the 

rest of Virginia’s 2011 season, prices 

remained at $20.00 for Size A and $22.00 

for Size B. Demand for Round Red potatoes 

exceeded supplies throughout the summer of 

2011 and the result was high prices and 

good movement. 

Yellow flesh potato prices were first 

reported on July 5, 2011 at $24.00-25.00 for 

50-pound sacks of U.S. One Size A. 

Demand for Yellow flesh potatoes was not 

as good as for Round White and Round Red 

and as a result, prices began to fall. Prices 

were $23.00-24.00 on July 7 and dropped to 

mostly $22.00 on July 11. By July 12, the 

price was mostly $20.00 and remained at 

that level for the rest of the season. Demand 

for Yellow flesh potatoes was generally 

moderate throughout the season. 

Weather: Weather conditions created some 

challenges for Virginia potato growers 

during 2011. Extremely dry conditions 

during spring forced growers to irrigate 

heavily to keep the crop in good condition. 

The combined rainfall recorded at the 

Eastern Shore Agricultural Research Center 

in Painter during April and May was only 

3.21 inches which was less than half of the 

71-year average. Although growers 

irrigated as much as possible, the dry 

conditions lowered yields for the crop. 

Yields in irrigated fields were decent 
41 

although in some areas, yields were 

significantly lower than average. 

After facing dry weather during spring, 

many growers on the Eastern Shore, 

particularly in Northampton County, later 

experienced extremely wet conditions. 

Rainfall recorded at the Eastern Shore 

Agricultural Research Center in Painter 

during June totaled 10.28 inches which was 

nearly three times the 71-year average. In 

fact, it was the highest recorded June rainfall 

since records were available in 1940. The 

heavy rainfall slowed the harvest of potatoes 

and many growers were unable to harvest 

the crop for extended periods of time due to 

the wet conditions. While growers in 

Northampton County received excessive 

rainfall, conditions remained dry in much of 

Accomack County. 

Production & Quality: Total Virginia 

production in 2011 was estimated at 

1,180,000 hundredweight (cwt) by the 

National Agricultural Statistics Service, 

compared to 952,000 cwt in 2010, 1,656,000 

cwt in 2009, 1,254,000 cwt in 2008 and 

1,134,000 cwt in 2007. Although dry 

conditions in 2011 caused yields to be lower 

than average, they were an improvement 

from the drought conditions of 2010. 

Despite challenging weather conditions, 

Virginia growers were able to produce a 

good quality crop. By irrigating during the 

dry conditions, growers were able to reduce 

crop losses. Later in the year, heavy rainfall 

did cause problems in some areas. Growers 

were fortunate that temperatures remained 

moderate following the rainfall as extremely 

hot conditions combined with wet fields 

could have led to more serious quality 

issues. Heat did become an issue later in the 

year but most of the crop was harvested by 

that time. 

 

Shipments: Shipments of Virginia potatoes 

were up significantly in 2011 when 

compared to 2010. Approximately 1,732 

truck lot equivalents (50,000 pound) were 

shipped in 2011 compared to 1,169 in 2010. 

The increase in shipments was a result of 

excellent movement and a decrease in crop 

losses compared to 2010. Weather 

conditions were so severe in 2010 that there 

were significant crop losses whereas fast 

movement of the crop helped growers 

reduce losses in 2011. 

Shipments during June 2011 accounted for 

nearly 17 percent of the crop compared to 9 

percent in 2010. July 2011 shipments 

represented nearly 80 percent of the crop 

compared to 90 percent in 2010. 

Approximately 3 percent of the crop was 

shipped in August 2011 compared to less 

than 1 percent in 2010. 

Markets & Competition: Virginia potato 

growers were helped by the fact that 

supplies of potatoes in competing areas were 

down significantly during the summer of 

2011. Supplies of storage potatoes in June 

were down approximately 35 percent which 

led to decreased competition from the 

western states. The decrease in storage 

potatoes led to good movement for new crop 

potatoes in Florida which allowed them to 

finish harvesting in a timely manner. In 

addition, cold weather delayed planting in 

most northern growing areas and caused 

harvesting in those areas to start later than 

normal. The result was a longer than normal 

marketing window for Virginia potatoes. 

Additionally, North Carolina faced 

extremely dry conditions which limited 

supplies from one of Virginia’s main 

competitors. Finally, areas in the Midwest 

suffered heavy rain and flooding which 

significantly reduced supplies in those areas. 

The decrease of supplies in many competing 

areas improved demand for Virginia 

potatoes and led to an excellent marketing 

year. 

Canada has typically been an important 

market for Virginia potato growers in the 

past but unfortunately, shipments to Canada 

have been relatively low during the previous 

few years. Fortunately, demand from 

Canada did improve in 2011. Virginia 

potato growers shipped 170 loads (50,000 

pounds) to Canada in 2011, compared to 

only 60 loads in 2010, 108 loads in 2009, 61 

loads in 2008 and 94 loads in 2007. It was 

the highest total shipped to Canada since 

2006 when 187 loads were exported. Over 

the past five years, Virginia growers have 

shipped an average of nearly 100 loads per 

year to Canada. Planting and harvest delays 

in Canada as well as an overall decrease in 

storage potatoes led to the increase in 

shipments to Canada in 2011. 
42 

VIGINIA CHIPPING POTATOES

2011 CROP

Chipstock potatoes continue to be a very 

important part of Virginia’s potato crop and 

in 2011 they represented nearly 45 percent 

of the total shipments. Chipstock potatoes 

were sold primarily based on preseason 

contracts and were mostly $10.50-11.00 per 

hundredweight (cwt). The same supply 

shortages that helped the tablestock market 

also influenced the chipstock market. 

Reduced supplies of storage potatoes, heavy 

losses due to flooding in major chipstock 

areas in the Midwest, decreased yields due 

to dry conditions in new crop growing areas 

and harvest delays in areas to the north all 

combined to cause shortages of chipstock 

potatoes. 

As a result of the shortage of chipstock 

potatoes, a few early open market sales were 

made as high as $20.00 per cwt. As supplies 

began to increase, open market prices 

dropped to near contract levels at $11.00 per 

cwt. Later, as supplies in North Carolina 

and Virginia began to decline and it became 

apparent that the northern areas of New 

Jersey and Michigan weren’t ready to 

harvest, growers tried to get the price back 

up to $20.00 per cwt level. Chippers balked 

at paying $20.00 and some sales were made 

at $16.00 per cwt. A few sales late in the 

season were as high as $17.00-17.50 per 

cwt. Demand was very good for chipstock 

potatoes in 2011. One grower stated it was 

the best movement for chipstock potatoes 

that he could remember. 

Varieties: Of the 135.9 loads (50,000 

pound) of seed imported and inspected 

during the 2011 season, Superiors accounted 

for over 18 percent of the total, once again 

making it the most popular of all varieties 

grown in Virginia. The next most popular 

Round White tablestock potato was the 

Envol, an early maturing variety. Envols 

accounted for over 7 percent of potatoes 

planted in 2011 and it was the fifth most 

popular of all varieties grown. 

Chipping varieties accounted for the second, 

third and sixth most popular with Atlantic at 

12 percent, Snowden at percent% and FL1867, a Frito Lay variety, at 5 percent. A 

variety that saw a big increase in 2011 was 

the Beacon Chipper and was ranked twelfth 

at nearly 3 percent. 

Use of Russet potatoes increased slightly in 

2011 following a significant decrease in 

2010. Russet varieties accounted for over 

15 percent of the potatoes planted in 2011 

compared to 12 percent in 2010, 21 percent 

in 2009, 20 percent in 2008 and 13 percent 

in 2007. The top Russet varieties included 

the fourth ranked Norkotah at nearly 8 

percent and ninth ranked Gold Rush at 4.5 

percent. 

Red potatoes continue to play an important 

role for Virginia potato growers with the 

Dark Red Norland the eleventh most popular 

at 3.1 percent, the Red Norland ranked 

thirteenth at 2.7 percent and the Red Lasoda 

fourteenth at 2.2 percent. All Red varieties 

accounted for 9.4 percent in 2011 compared 

to 9.7 percent in 2010. Red potatoes have 

ranged between 7 percent and 10 percent 

since 2003 after accounting for a high of 14 

percent in 2002. 

The Yellow flesh Yukon Gold was the tenth 

most popular at 3.4 percent, down from 4.2 

percent in 2010 but up from approximately 2 

percent in 2009. The Satina variety 

accounted for 1.3 percent in 2011 compared 

to 1.7 percent in 2010. Yellow flesh 

varieties accounted for 6.3 percent of the 

potatoes grown in 2011 compared to nearly 

8 percent in 2010. Between 2002 and 2009, 

Yellow potatoes ranged between 4 and 6 

percent after accounting for a high of 9 

percent in 2001. 
43 

VIRGINIA SEED POTATOES

2011 CROP

Virginia Seed Potato Import Record: Receipts of seed potatoes by varieties for Accomack and 

Northampton Counties. Amounts are 50,000 pound units. 

 2011 2010 2009 2008 

Superior 25.03 34.64 29.40 20.95 

Atlantic 16.18 16.48 9.24 10.70 

Snowden 10.97 10.57 8.12 6.07 

Norkotah 10.50 6.95 17.55 10.50 

Envol 9.99 13.15 15.61 10.49 

FL-1867 7.00 9.00 10.00 11.10 

LaChipper 7.00 ----- ----- ----- 

Andover 6.88 3.39 6.93 6.61 

Gold Rush 6.16 7.08 8.01 7.25 

Yukon Gold 4.64 5.75 2.54 4.14 

Dark Red Norland 4.14 1.98 0.50 3.29 

Beacon Chipper 3.80 0.72 0.94 ----- 

Red Norland 3.62 5.18 4.74 5.13 

Red Lasoda 2.96 2.60 1.60 0.88 

Silverton 2.61 2.60 0.88 1.58 

FL-2053 1.90 1.00 ----- ----- 

Satina 1.80 2.32 3.03 1.76 

Peribonka 1.65 ----- 0.85 0.84 

Eva 1.57 3.08 0.86 ----- 

Marcy 1.53 ----- ----- ----- 

Vivaldi 1.37 0.56 ----- ----- 

Villetta Rose 1.12 1.62 1.80 0.73 

FL-2126 1.00 ----- ----- ----- 

Nordonna 0.88 ----- 0.52 ----- 

Augusta 0.77 ----- ----- ----- 

Classic Russet 0.41 ----- ----- ----- 

Langlade 0.40 ----- ----- ----- 

Sylvana 0.04 ----- ----- ----- 

Reba ----- 1.87 ----- 2.01 

Modoc ----- 1.70 1.88 0.04 

Norwis ----- 0.94 6.39 ----- 

Keuka Gold ----- 0.94 0.51 ----- 

Lehigh ----- 0.90 0.55 ----- 

Dakota Crisp ----- 0.48 0.86 ----- 

Innovator ----- ----- 0.86 ----- 

Rio Grande ----- ----- 0.83 ----- 

Gala ----- ----- 0.16 0.03 

Blazer Russet ----- ----- ----- 1.06 

Total 135.9 135.5 135.2 105.2 

 
44 

Seed Potatoes Imports by Origin: Maine 

continued to be the leading supplier of seed 

potatoes to Virginia in 2011. Maine shipped 

slightly over 50 percent of the seed that was 

inspected during the 2011 season which was 

an increase from 2009 and 2010 but was still 

lower than most of the previous years. 

Shipments from Maine accounted for 48 

percent in 2010, 40 percent in 2009, 57 

percent in 2008, 57 percent in 2007 and 52 

percent in 2006. Seed shipments from 

Canada increased in 2011 to over 33 percent 

making it was the second most popular 

origin. In 2010, approximately 29 percent 

of the seed originated from Canada 

compared to 40 percent in 2009, 24 percent 

in 2008, 25 percent in 2007 and 30 percent 

in 2006. Of the Canadian seed shipped in 

2011, 59 percent came from New Brunswick 

with 24 percent from Quebec and 17 percent 

from Prince Edward Island. Wisconsin was 

the third most popular origin at 

approximately 10 percent compared to 13 

percent in 2010, 9 percent in 2009, 12 

percent in 2008, 8 percent in 2007 and 5 

percent in 2006. Seed from New York 

accounted for less than 5 percent in 2011, 

compared to 10 percent in 2010, 9 percent in 

2009, 7 percent in 2008, 10 percent in 2007 

and 12 percent in 2006. Other states that 

shipped seed potatoes to the growers on the 

Eastern Shore included North Dakota and 

Michigan. 
45 

MARKETING NEW BRUNSWICK POTATOES

2011 CROP

Production: According to Statistics 

Canada, New Brunswick potato production 

decreased sharply to 11.9 million

hundredweight, down 21 percent from the 

2010 season total of 15.1 million cwt and 

14.7 million cwt from the 2009 season. The 

July 2012 production report placed 

harvested acreage at 48,500 acres, 2.800 

acres below 2010 levels and 6,000 acres 

under 2009 statistics. Yields decreased (50 

cwt) to 245 cwt per acre from the previous 

crop year and 25 cwt less than the 2009 

season (270 cwt). Total Canadian 

production of nearly 92 million cwt was 

down 5 percent and 9 percent respectively 

from the previous two crop years. This was 

the smallest crop since the 1991 season. 

Movement: Disappearance through 

November 2011 was 34 percent behind the 

2010 crop year pace. Early fresh movement 

(September-December) to the U.S. (588,651 

cwt.) was down 22 percent from the same 

time frame as the previous season total 

(754,040 cwt.) These figures were compiled 

with data issued from the U.S. Commerce 

Department, Agriculture and Agri-Food 

Canada and finalized by Statistics Canada. 

The season total through July 2012 of 1.5 

million cwt. decreased sharply (43 percent) 

from the 2010 season through the same date 

(2.7 million cwt). Access to the States is 

made through the major border crossing at 

Houlton, Maine, with lighter shipments 

entering through Fort Fairfield and 

Bridgewater, Maine. New Brunswick has 

predominantly been a processing (frenchfry) region, with nearly 60 percent of 

production devoted to this market. 

Growing and Harvest Season: Initial 

planting was off to a usual start the end of 

April; however, cool and wet conditions 

delayed major planting progress for about 

two weeks. Planting was completed by 

early June. Much of the growing season 

was plagued with cooler than normal 

temperatures and wetter than normal 

conditions. Emergence was slower than 

normal as well, running up to two weeks 

behind a normal schedule. A hail storm on 

July 12, 2011 occurred across the northern 

potato belt, causing severe damage to over 

40 growers’ potato fields. Late blight, rot 

and other water-related issues were 

prevalent in the crop. Initial light harvest of 

Round white and Yellows was underway in 

early September for domestic usage, while 

Russet harvest commenced mid-month. 

Additional rainfall occurred as a result of 
46 

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 

September, which delayed harvest further 

due to saturated soils. October brought 

cooler temperatures, some frost and a 

massive storm by the end of the month. 

Marketing Season: The U.S. Department 

of Agriculture Market News Service issued 

the first F.O.B. shipping report on Russet 

Norkotah mid-November with U.S. One or 

Canada No. One washed 2 inch or 4 ounce 

minimum baled 10 5-pound film bags from 

$9.25-9.50, well above the previous season’s 

start in late-October 2011 with prices from 

$7.50-8.00. Baled 5 10-pound film bags 

trailed the 5s price by .50-1.00 cents for 

much of the season. Prices were fairly flat 

until early March, when the market allowed 

a slightly bump to $9.50-10.00 mostly 

$10.00. Another market increase was felt 

the end of April when other local and East 

Coast supplies cleaned up; baled 5s rose to 

$10.50-10.75 to finish the season in early 

May. A few growers continued to pack light 

supplies through July for the U.S. and the 

Canadian market. Tote bags continued 

their popularity as Russet Norkotah U.S. 

One or Canada No. One tote bags 

(approximately 2000 pounds) were shipped 

to the States 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum at 

mostly $12.50 cwt at the onset. By the first 

of the New Year, tote prices firmed to 

$13.50 cwt. with moderate demand. Sales 

slowed for much of February and prices 

slipped .50 cents. In late February, 4-9 

ounce totes brought $14.50-14.75 and 

continued to climb to $17.00-17.50 in late 

March, where the market remained stable 

through the last report issued by the Market 

News Service in early May, which was 

earlier than a normal season. A few 

growers held supplies and packed light 

volume for the fresh market through July. 

Carton demand was sluggish for most of the 

season, with only a few shippers packing for 

the U.S. market. No F.O.B. shipping point 

prices were reported. Many growers and 

packers were disappointed with the weak 

marketing opportunities in the U.S. market 

and the smaller provincial crop due to 

weather related growing conditions. 

Stocks on hand: New Brunswick’s potato 

holdings on December 1, 2011 totaled 

11.392 million cwt, down nearly 9 percent 

from December 2010 holdings of 12.479 

million cwt. The December holdings were 

the lowest reported in 20 years. By June 

1, stocks on hand for the province fell 

sharply to 653,000 cwt, compared to 4 

million cwt for the previous year. Total 

Canada stocks at the same time of 11 million 

cwt were down sharply (30 percent) from 

the previous year’s total of nearly 15.8 

million cwt. A few fresh shippers continued 

to pack very lightly for the U.S. market 

through July. 
47 

Commodity Name POTATOESSum of 100000lb units Column LabelsRow Labels Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12 Apr-12 May-12 Jun-12 ARIZONA 7 288 104 CALIFORNIA-CENTRAL 335 223 42 32 113 160 179 77 620 1506 CALIFORNIA-IMPERIAL VAL 81 283 194 47 CALIFORNIA-NORTH 27 4 69 94 87 80 78 105 69 76 66 CALIFORNIA-SOUTH 137 85 52 15 52 58 42 38 CANADA 248 38 647 598 562 557 506 505 454 418 182 COLORADO 609 1345 1313 1689 1653 1264 1341 1435 1195 1328 1123 DELAWARE 90 50 FLORIDA 253 713 854 1033 412 IDAHO 2098 2642 2805 3093 3092 2966 2747 3131 2684 2948 3020 KANSAS 549 71 35 30 MAINE 12 48 90 276 353 275 278 250 144 52 21 MICHIGAN 28 181 173 273 269 248 233 250 167 85 38 MINNESOTA 759 596 198 172 154 143 57 72 58 36 14 NEBRASKA 102 365 278 258 154 141 92 204 182 188 138 NEVADA 54 98 97 106 98 92 106 88 96 105 NEW MEXICO 48 163 101 101 91 71 132 132 58 1 NEW YORK 44 107 97 147 102 48 14 NORTH CAROLINA 158 NORTH DAKOTA 99 262 334 345 309 326 366 222 139 80 OREGON 198 158 252 347 355 319 303 339 269 278 279 PERU 0 

TEXAS 465 337 279 173 198 182 170 0 52 VIRGINIA 3 145 WASHINGTON 1452 1307 972 909 887 746 631 773 664 713 649 WISCONSIN 389 628 608 866 704 639 580 560 432 423 298 Grand Total 7552 8386 8433 9504 9287 8324 7993 9137 7897 8973 8438