Marketing

U.S. Potatoes

2010 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 

 Fruit & Vegetable Programs
2 

Marketing U.S. Potatoes 

2010 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: November 2011 
3 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

2010 Season 

California, Kern District 4-6 

Colorado 7-8 

Delaware 9 

Florida 10 

Idaho 11-12 

Klamath Basin 13-14 

Maine 15-16 

Maine Chipping Potatoes 17 

Michigan Potatoes 18-19 

Michigan Chipping Potatoes 20 

Big Lake & Central Minnesota 21-23 

Red River Valley (Minnesota & North Dakota) 24-25 

New York Long Island 26 

New York Chipping Potatoes 27 

North Carolina 28 

Ohio Chipping Potatoes 29 

Pennsylvania Chipping Potatoes 30 

Virginia 31-33 

Virginia Chip Stock 34 

Virginia Seed Stock 35 

Columbia Basin Washington & Umatilla Basin 36-37 

Northwestern Washington 38 

Wisconsin 39 

New Brunswick Canada 40 

Monthly Potato Shipments 41 
4 

MARKETING KERN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA SPRING POTATOES 

2010 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 

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

change from 2009 to 2010 154% 99% 152% 67% 71% 

change from avg to 2009 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 

 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 % change 

Lone White 1,932 1,826 1,679 1,810 1745 -3.60% 

Round Red 1,686 2,047 1,960 2,398 2344 -2.30% 

Russet 3,968 4,030 3,292 3,516 1987 -43.20% 

Yellow Type 1,068 1,365 1,431 1,421 1399 -18.20% 

Chipper 3,402 3,745 3,640 ** ** NA 

Total Acreage 12,056 13,013 12,002 9145 7484 -18.20%

*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 Progress: January 31...

Farmland in Kern County has been stale bedded for 

potatoes. Planting began in earnest that following

week. By February 7, Kern County potatoes were 

growing well. March 28 brought the harvest 

equipments out as potatoes for chipping were being 

harvested in Kern County. The first week of May 

marked the official start of fresh potatoes harvest in 

Kern County. 

Weather and growing conditions were very much 

normal for the 2010 potato crop. Growers were 

able to get into the field in a timely and normal time 

frame to begin early field work, mark-out, planting

cultivating and harvesting. Growing condition were

very much an average of the last several years; 

including not too much rainfall and plenty of 

sunshine and the associated heat units. California is 

known as the “land of milk and honey” and this 

season did not disappoint the Kern County potato 

growers. The Central “Valley” has long been 

known for its potato crop and this season did not 

disappoint. Yields were very much average at 375-

400 cwt per acre. As most years, there was a range

of yield from the sandy soils to the south and the 

heavier soil to the north end of the potato growing

area. Potato quality was also very average with few 

problem or major concerns during the shipping 

season. 

KERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA POTATO SHIPMENTS 

2008 Spring Crop 2009 Spring Crop 2010 Spring Crop

Purple Type 47,600 cwt 78,141 62,899 cwt 

Fingerling *** 92,129 81,881 cwt 

Yellow Type 446,300 cwt 412,708 512,808 cwt 

Long White 643,300 cwt 607,073 743,005 cwt 

Round Red 718,700 cwt 618,467 842,063 cwt 

Russet 882,000 cwt 846,953 545,308 cwt 

Rail/piggy-back 1,105,400 cwt 965,200 836,850 cwt 

TOTAL SHIPMENTS 3,897,800 cwt 3,620,671 3,624,814 cwt 

Shipments: Local Kern county shipments of 2010 crop started week-ending May 1 and continued until weekending August 7. 

Kern District Potato Shipments By Variety 

 2009 Spring Crop 2010 Spring Crop 

VARIETY CWT Percentage CWT Percentage 

Purple 78,141 3 62,899 2 

Fingerling 92,129 4 81,881 2 

Yellow Type 412,708 15 512,808 14 

Long White 607,073 23 743,005 21 

Round Red 618,467 23 842,063 23 

Russet 846,953 32 545,308 15 

Round Red/Yellow Flesh 0 0 0 

Mixed Varieties 358 0 0 

TOTAL TRUCK 2,655,471 2,787,964 

Rail 965,200 27 836,850 23 

TOTAL 3,620,671 3,624,814 
6 

Marketing: The 2010 season was the fourth 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 8, 2010 and 

ended week ending July 24, 2010. 

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

opened at $16.45-18.45 per carton on week ending 

May 8, then closed at $10.45-on weekending July 

24. They never traded lower than week ending July 

24 and traded highest week ending May 8-May15. 

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

opened at $12.45 per carton on week ending May 8, 

then closed at $14.45-16.45 on week ending July 

254. They never traded higher than the last week 

and traded lowest on week ending May 15 and June 

5 at $10.45-12.45. 

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

opened at $18.45-22.55 per carton on week ending 

May 8, then closed at $12.45 on week ending July 

24. They never traded higher than the first week 

and traded lowest at $10.45-12.45 on week ending 

July. 

Russet Norkotah: U.S. One size A 100 pound 

sacks opened at $9.45 on week ending June 19, and 

closed at $10.45 on week ending July 25. U.S. One 

50-pound carton 80s opened the season on 

weekending June 19 at $13.45 per carton and closed 

on weekending July 24 at $10.45-12.45 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 77 percent 

of the crop; up from 72 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.
7 

MARKETING COLORADO POTATOES

2010 CROP

Production:

COLORADO (Fall Potato Crop) NASS 2009 Summary 

Area Planted Area Harvested 

2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 

57,000 56,000 55,500 56,900 55,200 55,200 

Yield Production 

2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 

385 400 390 

21,907,

000 

22,080,

000 

21,528,

000 

 

Colorado 2010 Potato Crop 

County Planted Harvested Yield Production 

Alamosa 19,100 acres 19,100 acres 393 CWT 7,505,000 cwt 

Rio Grande 17,100 acres 16,900 acres 393 CWT 6,640,000 cwt 

Saguache 14,600 acres 14,500 acres 383 CWT 5,560,000 cwt 

Other 

Combined 

Counties 

4,700 acres 4,700 acres 388 CWT 1,823,000 cwt 

State Total 59,500 acres 59,100 acres 389 CWT 22,971,000 cwt 

Planting-Growing-Harvesting Conditions: April 

5... Summer potatoes were 1 percent planted 

compared with a 5-year average of 4 percent. May 

9... Summer potatoes are 40 percent planted 

compared with a 5-year average of 44 percent and 4 

percent of the crop is emerged. Half of the fall 

potato crop was planted by week’s end which is 

well ahead of last year and the 5-year average. 

June 1... Summer potatoes are 90 percent planted 

compared with a 5-year average of 78 percent and 

50 percent of the crop was emerged. Fall potato 

planting in the San Luis Valley continued as 93 

percent of the acreage was planted by week’s end, 

ahead of the 5-year average of 91 percent. June 

28... 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 9... 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 two percent 

harvested by week’s end. August 30... Summer 

potatoes were 18 percent harvested with the crop 

reported in mostly good condition at the end of the

week. Fall potatoes were 2 percent harvested and 

reported in mostly good to excellent condition. 

October 4... Summer potatoes were 95 percent 

harvested at the end of the week. Fall potatoes 

progressed to 72 percent harvested. October 25... 

Fall potatoes progressed to 99 percent harvested. 

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 
8 

September 4. 70 count Russet cartons started out at 

$16.00 per carton and finished the season $20.00 

per carton. Size A baled 5 10-pound film bags 

started out at $8.00-8.50 and finished at $11.00- 

12.00. U.S. Commercial bulk per cwt size A started

at $11.00-12.00 and finished at $13.50-14.00. 

Movement: The Market News Service began 

reporting light movement of Round Reds, Yellow 

Type week ending August 14, 2010. Shipments of 

Russets started shipping out of the San Luis Valley

on weekending August 28. Fall potato shipments 

peaked in mid-November with the Thanksgiving 

promotions running add business. Weekending 

November 20 saw the peak at 439,174 cwt 

compared to 412,638 cwt shipped same week last 

year. Mid-December saw another bump of Holiday 

business. Weeks ending December 11 and 18 saw 

390,322 and 441,227 cwt shipped. The Easter 

Holiday saw another bump of business with 

weekending March 19 shipments of 344,183 cwt. 

Colorado’s total shipments for the crop year 

through week-ending September 3, 2011 equaled 

14,544,247 cwt compared to last season at 

15,127,000 cwt. By variety Fingerling 8,725 cwt 

compared to 2009 crop 19,172 cwt, Mixed 44,937 

cwt compared to 2009 crop 74,903 cwt, Round Red 

339,741 cwt compared to 2009 crop 330,114 cwt, 

Round Red/Yellow Flesh 2,971 cwt compared to 

2009 crop 22,200 cwt, Russet 13,229,402 cwt 

compared to 2009 crop 13,655,381 cwt, Yellow 

Type 926,593 cwt compared to 2009 crop 830,609 

cwt and shipped by rail 621,400 compared to 2009 

crop 188,500 cwt. 

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 inch (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 inch (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 2010 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. 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 2010 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 54 percent 

of the 55,500 acres planted for the 2010 crop 

compared with 61 percent coverage in the 2009 

survey. Russet varieties accounted for 85.0 percent 

of the 55,500 acres of all potatoes planted in the San 

Luis Valley for the 2010 crop compared with 84.0 

percent last year. Yellow Flesh varieties were 

planted on 10.0 percent of the total acreage, down 

one percentage point from 2009. Red varieties 

were planted on 2.0 percent of the total and the 

remaining 3.0 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 45.9 percent of the total potato acreage and 

accounting for 54.0 percent of all russet potatoes.

Norkotah Selection 3 was the most popular Russet 

Norkotah, accounting for 24.0 percent of the total 

acres planted; Norkotah Selection 8 claimed 5.3 

percent; Standard accounted for 1.6 percent; and all 

other Norkotah selections totaled 15.0 percent. The

Canela Russet variety ranked second among Russet 

varieties in 2010 by being planted on 13.4 percent 

of the total acreage and representing 15.8 percent of 

all russet varieties. The Rio Grande Russet was the 

third most popular russet variety, representing 6.8

percent of the total acreage and 8.0 percent of all

russet varieties. Blazer Russet ranked fourth among 

russets with 4.8 percent of the total acreage. 

Centennial Russet was next with 4.2 percent, 

Russet Nugget accounted for 2.7 percent and all 

Other Russet varieties were planted on 7.2 percent 

of the total acreage. 

Cherry Red was the most popular red variety 

planted in 2010. This variety accounted for 0.4 

percent of the total acreage and represented 20 

percent of all red varieties planted. Other Red 

varieties totaled 1.6 percent of the total acreage. 

Yukon Gold, a yellow flesh variety, was planted on 

4.0 percent of the total acreage and represented 40.0 

percent of all yellow flesh varieties. Other Yellow 

Flesh varieties were planted on 6.0 percent of the 

acreage. Chipita, with 2.5 percent of the total 

acreage, was the leading white variety. 

Other White and Other Varieties group, at 0.5 

percent of the total acreage, includes other white 

varieties, research varieties and other specialty type 

potatoes. 
9 

MARKETING DELAWARE POTATOES

2010 CROP

Statistics: According to the Delaware Agricultural 

Statistics Service, growers planted and harvested 1,600 

acres of potatoes during the 2010 season. Production 

decreased to 440,000 cwt, off by 8 percent from the 

previous year (480,000 cwt). Yields also decreased to 

275 cwt per acre, compared to 300 cwt last season. 

According to NASS, the average price for the season

totaled $9.90 per cwt, up .80 cents from the previous 

year ($9.10) with the total value of production for 2010 

of $4.356 million dollars. The grower base remained at 

5, despite the pressures of urban sprawl. 

Movement: The Market News Service reported 

movement of approximately 240,400 cwt of tablestock

for the 2010 season, down nearly 25 percent from the 

year before (322,000 cwt). During the 2010 season, the 

Market News Service reported shipments by potato type. 

Round Whites accounted for 75 percent of the total,

Round Red 15 percent, Yellow Type 9 percent and 

Russet 1 percent. The initial movement during the 2010 

growing season was reported in mid-July 25 with 

harvested completed by the end of September. 

Growing and Harvest Season: Initial planting was 

underway at the end of March, although soils were 

heavy with excess moisture, and progress was marginal. 

The advent of warmer temperatures helped alleviate soil 

moisture though in early May. By May 9, 91 percent of 

the potato crop was planted compared to the 5-year 

average of 94 percent. By Memorial Day, the crop was 

nearly planted as soils needed a boost with the midmonth rains. Above normal temperatures continued for 

much of June, which kept soil conditions dry, and some 

plantings showed stress. Harvest of Round Reds began 

the week after the Fourth of July with record high heat 

and dry soils, with Round White harvest underway about 

10 days later. Hot and dry conditions prevailed through 

July into mid-August, with growers harvesting at a 

record pace. Mid-August rains slowed harvest; 98 

percent of the crop had been harvested compared to the 5 

year average of 50 percent. Sporadic showers continued 

for the rest of the month as the harvest concluded. This 

was a much faster harvest compared to the 2009 season, 

when growers were hampered by heavy rains that 

stretched the season well into September. 

Marketing Season: Market News Service reported the 

first f.o.b. shipping prices of the 2010 season the third 

week of July. Prices opened higher than the previous 

season as 50-pound sacks of U.S. One Size A Round 

Reds were reported for $16.00, with B size $20.00, 

$4.00 above the sack prices initially in 2009. Round 

Red A’s dropped the first week of August to $13.00-

14.00 while Bs remained strong at $20.00. The short 

Red season finished by mid-August with A size from 

$11.00-12.00 and B size $17.00. Round White U.S. 

One size A 50-pound sacks began the season the latter 

half of July as well with initial F.O.B. shipping point 

prices of $8.00 and chefs at $12.00. Prices slipped 

slightly by August 1 from $7.00-8.00 for A size, while 

chefs remained at $12.00. These prices remained stable 

for the rest of the season, which was generally 

completed by most shippers near Labor Day, two weeks 

earlier than the 2009 season, which was plagued with 

several rain delays. One grower continued with 

shipments through September.
10 

MARKETING FLORIDA POTATOES

 

2010 CROP

Acreage & Production: 2010 crop production is 

listed by the USDA NASS in their January 2011 

Crop Production-Annual Report for the 2010 crop 

summary. Area planted was 332,000 acres total, 

with Hastings as 215,000 acres and other as 117,000

acres. Area harvested was 318,000 acre total, with 

Hastings as 203,000 acres, and other as 115,000 

acres. Yield per acre was 250 cwt per acres state 

wide. Production was 7,950,000 cwt total, with 

Hastings at 5,075,000 cwt and all other areas at 

2,875,000 cwt. 

Crop & Weather: Fields were being prepared for 

planting in late November 2009. Central and 

Southern Florida saw plenty of moisture in late 

November and early December. Wet conditions 

were reported in many areas during the month of 

December. January saw cool temperatures for the 

first 3 weeks with major freezing temperatures the 

second week of the month. Many acres showed 

significant damage from overnight sub-freezing 

temperatures. Potato digging around Lake 

Okeechobee and in the Immokalee and PalmettoRuskin areas became active during February. March 

saw the final planting for the northern fields in 

Suwannee County while some fields in the Hastings 

area needed replanted due to flooding. April saw 

fields in the Hastings area varied by location. Fields 

with poor drainage saw slow progress while drier 

fields had made good progress. Early May saw 

good weather for the start of 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 2010 season were 2,131,000 

cwt compared to 2,786,600 total cwt in 2009. 

Round Red was 1,472,400 cwt in 2010, 2,051,600 

cwt in 2009; Round White 452,100 cwt in 2010, 

446,400 cwt in 2009; Yellow Type 182,400 cwt in 

2010, 250,000 cwt in 2009; Russet Norkotahs 2,500 

in 2010, 3,250 in 2009; and Fingerling 400 cwt in 

2010 compared to 490 cwt in 2009. Round Red 

shipments began the weekending February 13 and 

finished weekending June 26. The Round Red crop 

had one week, May 8, that stood out with 1,647,000 

cwt shipped. Round White shipments started on 

weekending February 20 and finished weekending 

June 26. May and June were the biggest shipping 

months for Round Whites. Yellow Type shipments 

began weekending February 13 and finishing the 

last week of the season of June 26. April was the 

biggest shipping months for Yellow Type. 

Shipments of chipper potatoes totaled 9,506,000 

cwt in 2010; 7,001,000 cwt for the 2009 season. 

Chipper shipments began the weekending April 3 

and finished week ending June 19. Chipper 

shipments peaked from weekending May 8 through 

May 22. 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 2009 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 F.O.B. prices out of Florida 

for Round Reds from weekending February 27 

through June 26. Round Red 50-pound sacks size A 

started out at $15.00 per sack, finishing at $10.00-

12.00. Round White 50-pound sacks size A started 

the season weekending February 27 at $25.00 and 

finished weekending June 19 at $10.00-12.00, 

mostly $12.00. Yellow Type 50-pound sacks size 

A started the season week ending April 10 at $25.00

and finished weekending June 5 at $16.00. 
11 

MARKETING IDAHO POTATOES

2010 CROP

Acreage & Production: According to the National 

Agricultural Statistics Service, the in-season 

estimate for 2010 crop acreage was 295,000 acres 

planted, an 8 percent decrease from the final 

estimate for the 2009 crop at 320,000 acres. The inseason estimate of 2010 yield was 384 cwt per acre,

a 7 percent decrease from the final estimate for 

2009s yield of 415 cwt per acre. The in-season 

estimate of 2010 production was 112,970,000 cwt, a 

15 percent decrease from the final estimate of 2009s 

production of 132,500,000 cwt. 

Shipments: The first 2010 crop shipments were 

recorded during the weekending August 28, 2010. 

2,470,000 cwt of 2009 shipments over-lapped the 

start of 2010 crop marketed in August 2010. It was

the first week of October, 2010 before Idaho (as 

well as other areas) marketing was not competing 

with storage supplies. Fresh market shipments were

in full volume from August 2010 through August 

2011. Shipments from Idaho in 2010 were 

33,031,000 cwt, an 11percent decrease from 2009s 

shipments of 37,115,000 cwt. The peak shipping 

month was November 2010 at 3,234,000 cwt. 

Shipments were 94 percent Russet, 3 percent were 

Round Reds (including red skin/yellow flesh), and 3

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 2010 crop 

extended through September of 2011 after 2011 

harvest and shipments had started. 

Crop & Weather: Temperatures across the State 

ranged from normal to 8 degrees above normal for 

the first week of April, 2010 with most regions 

reporting above normal precipitation. Five percent

of the crop had been planted in the Southwest 

region of the State compared to 13 percent in 2009. 

The following week saw temperatures range from 3 

to 10 degrees below normal. Many extension 

educators reported that cool temperatures kept farm

operators out of the fields. The Jefferson County 

extension educator reported 6 to 12 inches of snow 

during the week. Twenty-eight percent of the crop 

had been planted in the Southwest which was the 

same as 2009. Very early planting activity had 

started in the South-central growing area, compared

to 5 percent in 2009. Temperatures ranged from 

normal to 8 degrees above normal during the third 

week in April and all areas reported precipitation. 

During the weekending April 25, Power County 

received over an inch of rain in some areas which 

halted potato planting. High winds and cool 

weather slowed field work the last week of April. 

Snow showers were reported in many regions of the 

State. By the end of April, Southwest was 98 

percent planted, South-central was 40 percent 

planted and the East was 10 percent planted. 

The first week of May saw cool weather 

accompanied by frost, snow and wind causing 

major concerns for many crops throughout the 

State. Snow was reported by the Twin Falls and 

Franklin County extension offices. The crop was 

beginning to emerge in the Southwest growing area 

of the State. Cool weather continued for the rest of 

the month with temperatures ranging as much as 10 

degrees below normal. The cool weather didn’t 

slow planting with 92 percent of the crop planted, 

however, only 14 percent of the crop had emerged 

compared to 25 percent in 2009. 

Cool, wet weather continued into the first week of 

June which continued to slow progress. The Power 
12 

County extension office reported that despite poor 

conditions, farm operators were dammer-diking 

potatoes. Emergence was 26 percent compared to 

59 percent in 2009. Planting was generally 

complete Statewide. By mid-June, dry weather 

moved into the State which improved many crops 

progress and condition. Temperatures for the 

weekending June 20 ranged from 4 to 8 degrees 

below normal. The Lincoln and Bingham County 

extensions reported frost damage to some potatoes 

in the region. 

By July 4th potato emergence was nearly complete. 

Thirty-seven percent of the crop was 12 inches high

compared to 69 percent in 2009 and 14 percent 

were closing middles compared to 25 percent in 

2009, conditions indicative to the cool weather in 

May and June. Warm and dry weather in mid-July 

improved farming conditions and crop progress. By 

the end of the month, potatoes closing middles were

92 percent compared to 99 percent in 2009 and the 

vines were just beginning to die or were being 

killed. 

In mid-August, Caribou County reported that 

potatoes were a little behind average but looked 

good. Potato harvest had begun the third week of 

August in the Southwest growing region of the 

State. During the last week of the month, the 

Bonneville extension reported Verticillium wilt was

becoming a problem in area potato fields. Caribou 

County reported rainfall slowed harvest for the 

week. Harvest in the Southwest was 17 percent 

complete, compared to 23 percent in 2009; Southcentral and Eastern growing regions had just started 

harvest. 

Temperatures the first week of September ranged 

from 3 to 4 degrees below normal for the State. The 

eastern districts reported the most rainfall for the 

week. By the weekending September 12, vines 

dying/killed had finally caught up to 2009 at 66 

percent. 

Temperatures for the weekending October 3 ranged 

8-18 degrees above normal for the State with very 

little precipitation reported. Potato harvest was at 

38 percent complete, 12 points behind 2009. 

Harvest was generally complete by the end of the 

third week in October. 

Marketing: The first report on Russet Norkotahs 

was issued during the weekending August 21, 2010 

out of the Twin Falls-Burley District and Western 

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

size A were $5.75-7.25 and the 50-pound cartons of 

70s were $15.00-16.00. Marketing shifted to 

include the Upper Valley during the weekending 

September 11, 2010. The baled 5 10-pound film 

bags non size A were $5.75-6.00 and the 50-pound 

cartons of 70s were $17.00-17.50. 

The first report on Russet Burbanks was issued 

during the weekending October 9, 2010 out of the 

Upper Valley, Twin Falls-Burley District Idaho. 

U.S. One baled 5 10-pound film bags non size A 

were $4.25-5.00 and the 50-pound cartons of 70s 

were $14.00-15.00. 

The last report on Russet Norkotahs was issued 

during the weekending March 5, 2011 out of the 

Upper Valley, Twin Falls-Burley District Idaho. 

U.S. one baled 5 10-pound film bags non size A 

were $6.75-8.50 and the 50-pound cartons of 70s 

were $19.00. 

The last report on Russet Burbanks was issued 

during the weekending August 20, 2011 out of the 

Upper Valley, Twin Falls-Burley District 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 $20.00. 

No consideration is given to after-sale adjustments

unless otherwise stated. Brokerage fees paid by the 

shipper are included in the price reported. 
13 

MARKETING KLAMATH BASIN POTATOES 

2010 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 8,400 8,400 495 4,158,000 $8.95 37,214,000 

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 

Shipments: Klamath Basin fresh potato shipments were 2,250,281 million cwt; with the California side of the 

Basin at 997,646 million cwt and the Oregon side at 1,252,635 million cwt. The shipping period was from 

weekending August 29, 2009 to week ending September 25, 2010. The week ending November 21 was the 

peak of shipments with 75,683 cwt for that week, which was down from 92,200 cwt shipped that same week in 

2008. 

Season 2008 

CWT KLAMATH BASIN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 

FINGERLING 7,494 

PURPLE TYPE 1,561 

ROUND RED 69,219 

ROUND WHITE 14,093 

RUSSET 1,052,754 1,000,108 

YELLOW TYPE 33,099 

Grand Total 1,178,220 1,000,108 
14 

Season 2009 

CWT KLAMATH BASIN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 

FINGERLING 26,178 

PURPLE TYPE 210 

ROUND RED 85,051 

ROUND WHITE 8,763 

RUSSET 1,059,415 997,646 

YELLOW TYPE 73,018 

Grand Total 1,252,635 997,646 

Season 2010 

CWT KLAMATH BASIN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 

FINGERLING 19,591 

PURPLE TYPE 1,853 

ROUND RED 80,041 

ROUND WHITE 9,622 

RUSSET 899,721 762,512 

YELLOW TYPE 61,509 

Grand Total 1,072,807 762,512 

Weather and Crop Conditions: On April 5, 2010, 

the Oregon Governor has declared a drought for 

Klamath County. Precipitation was around 70 

percent for the year and water storage was low as a

result of the drought. Soil moisture was also low. It 

is anticipated that irrigators in the project may only 

receive 30 to 40 percent of their water allocation.

Irrigators from Clear Lake may receive no irrigation 

water. Dust storms have resulted in crop losses this 

week. Blowing sand and topsoil directly killed 

wheat and young alfalfa stands. For crops that were

not destroyed, there will likely be production losses. 

An NRCS cover crop program has been 

implemented to prevent wind erosion. Snow 

throughout the week has been a much welcomed 

sign. However, the cold temperatures may affect 

crops that have already started to grow. Snow levels 

were not significant and will not reverse the severe 

drought conditions. Klamath County was listed on 

the Drought Monitor as a severe drought for the 

third straight week. Most Klamath Basin growers 

went out of the area, as far south as Madeline, 

California, to raise their potatoes for the 2010 crop 

year. 

Marketing: Prices from the Klamath Basin for 

Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film bags nonsize A (on a per bale basis) opened at $4.50 the 

week ending November 7, 2010. Season ending 

prices were $7.00 week ending July 31, 2011, 

which was also the season high. The season low 

was $2.75-3.50 the first two weeks of May. 50-

pound carton 70s prices opened at $7.00-8.00 per 

carton. Season ending prices on 70 counts was 

$12.00-13.00. The season low for 70 counts was 

$6.00-7.00, which held for most of February-March. 
15 

MARKETING MAINE POTATOES

2010 CROP

Production: Maine’s planted potato acreage 

totaled 55,000 acres, 1,000 less acres than the 

previous two seasons, according to New England 

Agricultural Statistics. Production increased 4 

percent to 15.8 million cwt from the previous year 

(15.2 million cwt) and 8 percent over the 2008 

season (14.7 million cwt). Harvested acreage for 

2010 was only 200 less than planted (54,800 acres). 

Yields improved to 290 cwt per acre, when 

compared to the previous two seasons’ totals of 275

and 270 cwt per acre, and the five year average of 

287. According to NASS, the average price for the

season totaled $10.00 per cwt, a slight decrease 

from the previous year ($10.10) with the value of 

production nearly $159 million dollars, a 3 percent

increase from last season ($154). 

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 38 percent of the total acreage, down

8 percent from the previous year total of 41.5 

percent. All Frito-Lay numbered chipping 

selections followed with 15.6 percent (an increase 

of 41 percent), the Snowden chipper accounted for 

5.8 percent (an increase of over 400 percent) and 

followed by Shepody (up 33 percent) with 5.2 

percent of the total acreage. The next three varieties 

included Superior, Russet Norkotah and Yukon 

Gold with decreased acreages that totaled 3.8 

percent, 3.5 percent and 2.8 percent of the total for 

the state in 2010. Acreages by potato type were 

Russets unchanged at 51 percent, Whites (both 

Long and Round) up from 35 to 39 percent, 

Yellows down 3 percent to 5 percent and Reds 5 

percent (6 percent). Round Whites graded by 

percentage of No.1 dropped from 73 percent to 70 

percent for the 2010 season and the lowest in over 

six seasons, while Russets slid slightly from 72 

percent to 69 percent for the year and Yellows fell

from 82 percent to 79 percent. Round Red varieties

increased their position from 82 percent the 

previous year to 90 percent in 2010. 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Mild spring 

conditions got potato planting off to an early start 

across the State. Many growers had completed 

planting before the end of May. By mid-June, tuber

development was up to 2 weeks ahead of schedule, 

with 90 percent emergence compared with last 

year’s 30 percent and the five-year average of 40 

percent. Timely rains and sunshine through June 

promoted rapid crop growth, but mostly dry 

conditions prevailed for the remainder of the 

growing season. Low disease and insect pressure 

promoted excellent quality, but size was off on the

earliest harvested varieties due to dry conditions in 

late summer. Some tablestock growers commenced 

harvest in early September due to favorable weather

conditions. By the end of the month, 50 percent of

the crop had been dug, ahead of last year’s 20 

percent and normal 5 year-average of 35 percent. 

Rains slowed the progress pace to a normal level in

October, although harvest was completed by the end 

of the month. 

Shipments: Maine fresh potato shipments through 

December 2010 were up sharply (21 percent) at 

947,053 cwt compared to 780,093 cwt the previous 

season as reported by the Market News Service. 

Early Round White movement surged 11 percent, 

Round Red and Yellows increased by 205 and 39 

percent while Russet movement climbed 22 percent 

over the same period last year. February was the 

first month of the 2010 season that saw slightly less 

movement than the previous season’s comparison 

(less 8 percent). By mid-March, supplies were 

fairly light and were quickly held in few hands. 

Major destinations for the crop included 

Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, North 

Carolina, Maine and Virginia. Shipments by type 

through June 2011 for the 2010 season were: 

Round White 1,250,500 cwt, Round Red 174,781 

cwt, Yellow type 252,256 cwt, Russets 620,179 

cwt. for a combined total of 2,297,649 cwt. The 

total showed a slight increase of 4 percent over the 

previous crop, with Round Red and Yellows up 42 

percent and 22 percent respectively. Round White 

varieties showed only a modest gain of 1 percent 
16 

while Russet table varieties decreased 4 percent 

from the 2009 shipping season. 

Easements: According to the Maine Department 

of Agriculture’s Inspection Service, 614 loads

(326,281 cwt) were sent to Canada for processing

for the season through July 2011, compared to 753 

loads (396,308 cwt) the previous year. 

Potato Stocks: Stocks on hand December 1, 2010 

totaled 12 million cwt, the same as the previous 

season’s December 1 holdings. Disappearance 

totaled 3.3 million cwt, compared to 3.5 million cwt 

the previous season. Maine’s processor usage 

(excluding chips) was down 1 percent from last 

season. Storage accounted for 79 percent of the 

state’s total production: 45 percent Russets, 45 

percent Round White varieties, 6 percent yellows 

and 4 percent red varieties. The May 1 stocks on 

hand reported 3.8 million cwt, 3 percent less than 

the previous year of 3.9 million cwt. and 

represented 24 percent of total production in 

storage. 

Marketing Season: Market News issued the first 

F.O. B. Shipping Point prices the last week of 

October with Round White U.S. One 2 inch 

minimum baled 10 5-pound film bags from $7.50-

8.00, $1.00 above the 2009 initial market prices. 

Prices for Russet Norkotah baled 10 5-pound film 

bags 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum also ranged from 

$7.50-8.00 per bale, which again was $1.00 above 

the previous season’s start. High quality brought a 

surge of demand at the onset of the season. Prices 

remained stable for Russets until the end of January, 

when baled 5s climbed to $8.50-9.00, which was 

$6.00 cwt more than one year prior. Round White 

prices also increased by mid-January as baled 10 5-

pound film bags 2 inch minimum brought $8.25-

8.50, and 2 1⁄4 inch minimum sold from $9.50-10.00, 

$2.00 above the 2009 prices. By early April, 2 inch 

minimum Round White prices climbed another 

$2.00 cwt., while 2 1⁄4 inch minimum packs jumped 

to $11.00-12.00 for baled 5s. Round White 

finished the season May 1 at $10-10.50 for baled 2 

inch 5s, while the last report for Russet Norkotah 

was issued in early April with baled 10-5 pound 

film bags 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum from $9.50-

10.00. Yellow Type potatoes were first reported in 

mid-November with baled 10 5-pound film bags 2 

inch minimum from $10.00-11.00, just slightly 

stronger than the previous season start at $9.50-

10.50. Prices remained at stable levels throughout 

the season, with the last report in early April at 

mostly $11.50-12.00. Light shipments of Russets 

and Round Whites continued through most of July. 

Packaging: The major consumer package for 

Maine potatoes has been the baled 10 5-pound film 

bags for Russet, Round Whites and Yellows. 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 up over the 

previous time one year earlier during the fall and 

winter months with surcharges that averaged 

slightly higher from 10-15 percent for most 

deliveries north of Pennsylvania. However, by the 

first of the New Year, surcharge costs increased 

with truckers demanding 20-27 percent for most 

destinations. A few shippers reported 12-17 percent 

surcharges to Boston during this time, but that was

the exception. As diesel prices surged, so did 

delivery costs. By March 1, higher surcharges were

reported with lows of 30 percent and as high as 35 

percent for deliveries. By the latter half of the 

month, prices increased again to 34-39 percent over

the base rate. 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 a few instances of truck shortages 

during the season, mostly during the time of rising

fuel costs and seed deliveries in late winter/early

spring. 
17 

MAINE CHIPPING POTATOES

2010 CROP

Statistics: Maine chipping potato movement 

totaled over 2.4 million cwt, up 25 percent over 

the previous season’s total of nearly 1.92 million 

cwt, and the highest total in the last decade. Total 

production for the state was 15.8 million cwt, and 

increase of 4 percent from the previous year (15.2). 

Yields were reported slightly higher at 290 cwt 

per acre compared to the previous year (275). 

Shipments began mid-August and finished midJune, a slightly storage season than previous years. 

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 

season totaled $10.00 per cwt, down slightly from 

the previous crop year ($10.10) with the value of 

production nearly $159 million dollars ($154.0 last

season). Nationally, potatoes used for chips and 

shoestrings totaled 54.7 million cwt in 2010, up 29

percent from the previous year. 

Marketing: Harvest of out-of-the-field supplies 

began the second week in August. At the end of 

October, shipments had surged 21 percent ahead of 

the previous season. January movement was 

exceptional as retailers prepared for NFL play-off 

games and the Super Bowl. By the end of the 

month, shipments outpaced the previous season by 

22 percent. The pace remained steady for the rest

of the winter months. In April, movement to date 

kept pace, and remained steady for the rest of the 

season. The final report of the 2010 season was 

issued in mid-June. 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. 
18 

MARKETING MICHIGAN POTATOES

2010 CROP

Production: Michigan growers harvested 43,500 

acres, the same as the previous season and 

production remained the same at nearly 15.7 million

cwt (14.8 million cwt in 2008). Record yields of 

360 cwt tied the previous season also and topped 

the previous record of 350 cwt per acre as reported

in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Approximately 90 

percent of the December 1 stocks on hand were 

Round White varieties, 9 percent Russets, and 1 

percent Red varieties. According to NASS, the 

average price for the season totaled $10.90 per cwt, 

a .40 cent increase from the previous year ($10.50)

and the value of production nearly $171 million 

dollars ($164 in 2009). 

Movement: Light shipments of the summer Round 

White Onaway crop commenced the latter half of 

July with mature tubers and continued through 

October from East Central Michigan. 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 during the season. The early Round White 

movement lagged 19 percent behind the previous 

season due to slow local trading, and smaller 

acreage of Onaway. By the end of October, total 

movement in the state was down by 27 percent from 

a year earlier. Due to a disappointing marketing 

year for bulk Russet growers in 2009, much less 

acreage was grown for repack in 2010, with much 

of that acreage switching to chipstock varieties. 

The final total for the season reported by the MNS 

the middle of June was nearly 1.96 million cwt, 

compared to 2.52 million cwt and 2.25 million cwt 

for the latter two seasons. Russet varieties 

accounted for 75 percent of the total, while Round 

White loads made up 24 percent, and Round Red 

and Yellows only 1 percent of the total. 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Planting was off 

to an early start the end of March with unseasonably 

warm temperatures in the 70’s. However, April 

remained on the drier side. By mid-May, cool and 

wet weather slowed planting progress with a few 

frosts across the state near Mother’s Day. By May

23rd, 79 percent of the crop was planted, compared 

to 70 percent the previous year. Above normal 

temperatures the end of the month pushed potato 

emergence to 68 percent, sharply ahead of the 

previous season and the 5 year average of 44 

percent, according to NASS. Planting was 

generally completed by mid-June, with emergence 

at 93 percent, ahead of the 5 year average of 84 

percent. July brought above normal temperatures, 

with some precipitation relief mid-month. Tuber 

development continued about a week ahead of 

normal. The summer Round White Onaway crop 

developed ahead of normal, with skin maturity in 

mid-July. There were some fields of late light 

discovered in southern St. Joseph County in June. 

Some Russets were harvested beginning in early 

August, while initial movement to storage began the

end of the month. Cooler temperatures prevailed 

after Labor Day, with adequate moisture. By the 

first week in October, 47 percent of the crop had 

been harvested, slightly behind the 5 year average 

of 54 percent. Overall, the month brought good 

harvesting weather, with slightly warmer 

temperatures, and only a few rain delays. The last

few growers were able to complete harvest the first

week in November, with only a few scattered frosts. 
19 

Onaway Summer Marketing Season: Light 

shipments of the summer Round White Onaway 

crop commenced the latter half of July with mature 

tubers and continued through October from East 

Central Michigan. 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 during the season. Demand 

was sluggish with U.S. One size A 10 pound open 

window sacks loose reported from $1.80-1.85, 

$2.50-3.00 cwt below the 2009 initial prices. By 

mid-August, prices had slipped to mostly $1.65-

1.70, and end of the month brought a range from 

mostly $1.50-1.60 with deliveries to local markets,

$2.00-2.50 cwt above the same time one year 

earlier. By mid-October, the remaining supplies 

sold for mostly $1.40, up $2.00 cwt from the 

previous year’s finish. 

Storage Season: The first marketing prices for 

storage supplies began the last week in September 

with unofficial F.O.B. Shipping Point Prices 

gathered from industry officials and issued weekly 

in the National Shipping Point Trends each 

Tuesday. U.S. One size A Russet Norkotah and/or 

Goldrush packed in ten pound film bags loose 

brought mostly $1.50-1.55. The first daily report 

was issued in early November with a range from 

$1.60-1.75, $3.00 cwt higher than the 2009 start in

mid-October. This price was the lowest price of the 

season; the market slowly climbed to finish in midMay at $2.00-2.15 per ten pound film bag. 

Although many felt the market should have been 

stronger, the smaller profile of the Western Russet

held consumer packs at lower prices all year. The

first F.O.B. Shipping Point prices for storage Round 

Whites began in early November with prices from 

$1.50-1.80. It was difficult for White growers to 

receive more returns than Russet growers; in fact, a 

few retail chain stores shrunk shelf space for Round 

Whites, and preferred more red and yellow and 

gourmet fingerling varieties with additional 

margins. Consequently, a few growers looked for 

new buyers and outlets for their supplies, and were

able to move their supplies to new destinations, 

primarily in the East, with good returns. By midMarch, Round White supplies were in few hands 

with the last reported prices from $2.15-2.25 for 

size A ten-pound open window sacks, compared to 

last season’s final prices of mostly $1.10-1.20 per

ten. 

Stocks on Hand: Michigan’s potato stocks on 

hand December 1, 2010 totaled 9.3 million cwt 

compared to 9.0 million cwt and represented 59 

percent of the crop year’s production, up by 3 

percent over the previous crop year. The April 1 

holdings of 2.3 million cwt were up sharply (+35 

percent) from the previous year (1.7 million cwt) 

and accounted for 15 percent of the year’s 

production, primarily being held for chipping. 

Packaging: The 10-pound open-window sack 

loose paper sack for Round White varieties 

remained the favored package while the 10-pound 

film bag loose for Russet varieties (notably 

Norkotah and Goldrush) was predominant. A few 

growers packed a premium 8-pound film bag of 

Round whites and Russets for special in-house sales

by a major retailer in the State. Another chain 

switched to only an 8-pound bag for both Round 

Whites and Russet varieties. In early Spring, a few 

growers packed cartons of Russets to help fill 

demand for large sizes. Due to a shortage of 

Round White potatoes by Spring, there was some 

demand for totes shipped to repackers in the East. 

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. 
20 

MICHIGAN CHIPPING POTATOES

2010 CROP

Production: Michigan growers harvested 43,500 

acres, the same as the previous season, and 

production remained the same at nearly 15.7 million

cwt as the 2009 season as well (14.8 million cwt in

2008). Record yields of 360 cwt per acre tied the 

previous season also, and topped the previous 

record of 350 cwt as reported in 2007 and 2008. 

Contracted chip acreage across the state was 

reported by industry officials as slightly higher than 

the previous season, although most prices eased 

back at least .75 cents per cwt. The previous 

season had healthy contract increases from $2.50-

3.00 cwt. 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 $10.90 per cwt, 

a .40 cent increase from the previous year ($10.50)

with the value of production of nearly $171 million

dollars ($164 million dollars in 2009). Nationally, 

potatoes used for chips and shoestrings totaled 54.7 

million cwt in 2010, a 29 percent increase from the

2009 total. 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Planting was off 

to an early start due to unseasonably warm 

temperatures. Reports that St. Joseph County was 

on the ground near April 1st and growers in 

Montcalm County began the week of April 19th. By 

mid-May, cooler and wet conditions slowed 

planting progress slightly, although the moisture 

was needed. Scattered frosts occurred around the 

state in late April and early May. By May 23rd, 79

percent of the crop was in the ground, compared to 

70 percent the previous year. Above normal 

temperatures returned the latter half of May pushed

potato emergence to 68 percent, sharply ahead of 

the previous season and the 5 year average of 44 

percent, according to NASS crop weather reports. 

Statewide, planting was completed by mid-June, 

with emergence at 93 percent, ahead of the 5 year 

average of 84 percent. Some reports of late blight

were announced in St. Joseph County at this time. 

July brought hot weather conditions, with some 

much needed rain by mid-month. Tuber 

development continued about a week ahead of 

normal. The first potatoes for chipping were dug 

around July 21st in St. Joseph County, to fill in for 

rain-outs in southern Indiana. Movement to storage

was active mid-September with cooler temperatures 

and adequate moisture. By the first week in 

October, 47 percent of the crop had been harvested,

slightly behind the 5 year average of 54 percent, 

with the first reports of scattered frosts across the 

state. Overall, the month brought good harvesting

conditions, with slightly warmer temperatures and a

few rain delays late in the month. The last few 

growers were able to complete harvest by the first 

week in November, with only a few light scattered 

frosts reported. 

Marketing: There was little open market trading 

during the 2010 season. Early movement through 

October was ahead by 38 percent from the previous 

crop year and continued throughout the season. 

Shrink and cullage reports were minimal compared 

to the previous season’s losses in storage. The 

shipping season extended in early June as expected,

with final movement for 2010 of just over 10 

million cwt, an increase of 15 percent from the 

previous season, and the largest shipping season 

since 2003. Predominant varieties included 

Atlantic, Snowden, Pike and FL numbered varieties. 

Stocks: According to NASS, Michigan’s potato 

stocks on hand December 1, 2010 totaled 9.3 

million cwt compared to 9.0 million cwt, and 

represented 59 percent of the crop year’s 

production, up by 3 percent over the previous 

season. The April 1 holdings of 2.3 million cwt. 

were up sharply (+35 percent) from the previous 

season (1.7 million cwt) and accounted for 15 

percent of the season’s production, primarily held 

for shipments to chippers into early June. 
21 

MARKETING BIG LAKE & CENTRAL MINNESOTA POTATOES 

2010 CROP

Acreage & Production: National Agricultural 

Statistics Service reported planted acreage for all of 

Minnesota at 45,000 acres compared to 47,000 

acres in 2009; and 42,000 acres compared to 45,000 

acres harvested in 2009; and 50,000 acres planted 

with 48,000 acres harvested in 2008. 

Growing Regions: The Big Lake and Central 

Minnesota District stretches from the Big Lake area

(Sherburne County) in the south to Long Prairie, 

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. Early April saw a high amount of 

precipitation pushing back the statewide average 

starting date for fieldwork by two days. Spring 

tillage and fieldwork for the 2010 crop year began 

two weeks earlier than in 2009 and two days later 

than the five-year (2005-2009) average. Though 

planting was delayed by rain and excess moisture 

through most of early May, it was essentially 

complete by the first week of June. Wet weather for

most of June slowed fieldwork. A warm, dry July 

helped crops to develop quickly. As of July 25, 

most crop development was ahead of the previous 

year but behind the average. The 2010 crop year 

saw an overall increase in precipitation from the 

average. Across the State, topsoil and subsoil 

moisture supplies were rated mostly adequate to 

surplus through June. From July to the end of the 

growing season, soil moisture levels were rated 

mostly short to adequate. 

Harvest: Light harvest activity of Round Reds 

started week ending September 24, 2010. 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. Some Russets were still being harvested 

into late October. 

Shipments: Recorded shipments of Round Reds 

and Russets for the season totaled 1,797,750 cwt 

compared to 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 in late July week ending July 

24, and peaked in August week ending August 14 

with 176,053 cwt. Shipments of Russets started 

week ending August 7 and finished for the most 

part in mid-October week ending October 16; a few 

Russets were stored and marketed in November for 

the Thanksgiving market. Volume shipments 

continued through week ending October 2, then 

declined seasonally with light shipments continuing

out of the peat soil storage area until the last potato 

was shipped on week-ending March 19, 2011 

compared to prior year February 27, 2010. 
22 

Column 

Labels 

 BIG LAKE AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA 

Row Labels ROUND RED 

ROUND 

WHITE RUSSET YELLOW TYPE TOTAL 

7/24/2010 15,775 15,775 

7/31/2010 112,869 1,275 5,320 119,464 

8/7/2010 131,731 2,975 12,729 5,100 152,535 

8/14/2010 176,053 5,638 16,789 17,002 215,482 

8/21/2010 168,053 3,613 14,708 8,526 194,900 

8/28/2010 155,924 8,925 22,845 4,458 192,152 

9/4/2010 97,655 5,736 37,657 2,545 143,593 

9/11/2010 81,336 1,275 32,570 1,510 116,691 

9/18/2010 81,614 2,763 43,564 850 128,791 

9/25/2010 55,888 2,123 38,040 96,051 

10/2/2010 30,600 1,700 28,688 60,988 

10/9/2010 26,988 17,850 1,275 46,113 

10/16/2010 25,713 1,275 1,485 28,473 

10/23/2010 23,163 23,163 

10/30/2010 21,250 21,250 

11/6/2010 16,576 16,576 

11/13/2010 20,825 20,825 

11/20/2010 17,910 17,910 

11/27/2010 11,050 11,050 

12/4/2010 16,700 16,700 

12/11/2010 17,000 17,000 

12/18/2010 20,400 20,400 

12/25/2010 24,650 24,650 

1/1/2011 14,344 14,344 

1/8/2011 16,150 16,150 

1/15/2011 19,124 19,124 

1/22/2011 15,725 15,725 

1/29/2011 5,525 5,525 

2/5/2011 5,950 5,950 

2/12/2011 4,675 4,675 

2/19/2011 5,100 5,100 

2/26/2011 5,100 5,100 

3/5/2011 3,825 3,825 

3/12/2011 850 850 

3/19/2011 850 850 

Grand Total 1,446,941 37,298 266,925 46,586 1,797,750 
23 

Marketing: The Big Lake and Central Minnesota 

marketing of Round Reds started week ending July 

31, 2010. Shipping point prices for Round Reds 

U.S. One size A in 50-pound paper sacks, at $21.50 

compared to prior year at $11.00 per 50-pound unit. 

Prices finished at $12.00-15.00 week ending 

September 25. During the nine weeks of the Round 

Red potato marketing season, prices ranged from a 

third week high of $21.50 compared to $14.50-

16.50 in 2009 per 50-pound unit for the Size A 50-

pound paper sacks to a low of $12.00-13.00 

compared to $10.00-11.00 in 2009 per 50-pound 

unit. 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 

2010 Summary, reported Average Price Received 

for Minnesota potatoes including Processing and 

Fresh was $7.30 in 2010 compared to $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. 
24 

MARKETING RED RIVER VALLEY POTATOES 

2010 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 

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 

ACREAGE PRODUCTION 

Minnesota Minnesota 

 2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 

Sherburne (Big Lake) 6,200 5,600 5,200 2,400,000 3,158,000 1,968,000 

Polk (East Grand Forks) 4,500 4,000 NA 1,008,000 1,574,000 NA 

North Dakota North Dakota 

 2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010 

Walsh (Grafton) 26,300 25,400 25,400 4,590,000 4,979,000 4,979,000 

Pembina (Crystal) 21,600 20,100 20,100 4,590,000 3,662,000 3,662,000 

Grand Forks (Grand Forks) 11,100 10,100 10,100 4,070,000 3,629,000 3,629,000 

Weather and Crop Conditions: Heavy snowfall 

and below average temperatures during the winter 

had placed spring fieldwork behind last year but 

near the five-year average. Producers anticipated 

full scale fieldwork to begin on April 22. Snow 

melt conditions varied across the valley. Cool 

temperatures slowed the thawing process and 

extended the flooding potential for Red River 

watersheds. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 

35 percent adequate and 65 percent surplus; subsoil

moisture supplies were rated 45 percent adequate 

and 55 percent surplus on April 4. By April 19 

growers were planting potatoes in a light way. By 

April 25, potatoes were 40 percent planted, ahead of 

both last year and the average. May 30 potatoes 

were 98 percent planted and 39 percent emerged 

compared with 80 and 28 percent of the five year 

average. By July 25, seventy-seven percent of 

potato rows were filled which remained ahead of 

average. August 29 potatoes had 38 percent of their 

vines killed, an increase of 19 percentage points and 

were 7 percent dug. September 26 potatoes were 51 

percent harvested an increase of 7 percentage points 

over last week but falling behind the average. By 

October 17 potatoes were 95 percent dug, an 

increase of 10 percentage points over last week and

slightly ahead of the average. Condition of potatoes 

put into storage in the early weeks of harvest was 
25 

below the average in quality due to high 

temperatures and dry soil conditions. As harvest 

progressed much needed rainfall came; creating 

better harvest conditions and allowing growers to 

put the crop into storage in a much better condition. 

These weather conditions created a wide range in 

appearance throughout the packing season. 

Marketing: The first report of the season was 

issued the week ending September 11, 2010 and the 

last report of the season was April 16, 2011. Prices 

for tote bags, approximately 2000 pounds per cwt, 

size A Round Reds U.S. One opened at $30.00-

32.00 per cwt compared to $13.00-14.00 in 2009. 

Tote bags finished the season at 18.50-19.00 per 

cwt compared to $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 upcharged $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 

Minnesota All $6.10 $8.25 7.70 7.30 

 North Dakota 

All $6.90 $8.30 9.45 8.75 

Fresh $8.70 $14.90 10.10 13.00 

Processing $6.40 $6.80 9.25 7.35 

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 August 14, 2010 and continued 

into the week ending June 25, 2011. Fresh 

shipments totaled 3,380,323 cwt compared 

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 14 had shipments totaling 153,261 cwt 

compared to 133,370 cwt in 2008 with shipments of 

1,695,000 and 1,566,000 cwt shipped the same 

week in 2007 and 2006. Three other holidays saw a 

jump in shipments Christmas with week ending 

December 18 at 135,108 cwt. Martin Luther King’s 

birthday January 15 at 143,573 cwt, and Easter 

week ending March 5 at 131,135 cwt. 

(MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA) RED RIVER VALLEY 

CWT CROP 

YEAR 

Round 

Red 

Yellow 

Type Mixed Red/Yellow Rail TOTAL 

Minnesota 2,010 539,673 11,305 0 0 0 550,978 

 

North 

Dakota 2,010 2,622,572 56,998 15,933 4,242 129,600 2,829,345

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. Frito-Lay 

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. 
26 

MARKETING LONG ISLAND POTATOES

2010 CROP

Statistics: According to the New York Agricultural 

Statistics Service, New York growers planted

16,200 acres of potatoes for the 2010 season, 900 

less acres for the previous season and 1,800 less 

acres than 2008, and another record low for the 

state. Harvested acreage totaled a record low 

16,000 acres, 500 less than the previous year. 

However, due to healthy yields, production 

increased slightly to 5.120 million hundredweight 

(cwt), 3 percent up from the 2009 crop, with an 

average yield of 320 cwt, tying the record breaking 

yield of 320 cwt of the 2008 season. Unofficial 

sources reported estimated planted acreage of 

potatoes of 2,500-2,600 acres on Eastern Long 

Island. According to NASS, the average price for 

the season in New York totaled $13.50, an increase 

of .70 cents over the previous season ($12.80) and 

the value of production totaled $69.1 million dollars 

for the state. 

Growing and Harvest Seasons: Planting of the 

2010 crop was delayed slightly due to heavy rain 

the end of March. However, planting moved along 

as most growers finished by the end of April. 

Spring rains in early May helped spur plant growth. 

The end of June brought hot and dry conditions 

with record-breaking temperatures over the July 4th

weekend. A few growers began light harvest for 

local deliveries in early August as Atlantic 

Seaboard supplies cleaned up early and some early 

vines naturally died due to hot, dry conditions. 

Harvest continued through October for some 

growers. 

Marketing Season: The first F.O.B. Shipping 

Point prices were issued by the Market News 

Service the last week of August. Round White

U.S. One 50-pound sacks size A were first reported 

at mostly $7.00-7.50, the same as the later start of 

the 2009 season. Large size offerings were limited 

as the size profile of the 2010 was smaller. The first 

report of Round White U.S. One 50-pound large 

was reported as a few $10.00-10.50, $2.00-2.50 

above the previous season start. Prices remained

fairly stable with fairly good demand for the bulk of 

the season. Large size 50s were reported for much

of this time from $8.75-9.25 with size A 50s mostly

$7.25. Large size potatoes were limited throughout

the season as the tuber profile was smaller. Baled 

5s began the season at the $9.25-9.50 mark and 

slipped by mid-October to $8.75-9.50 as more 

growers began packing upon completion of harvest 

and generally remained at this point for the duration 

of the season. These prices were slightly higher than 

the 2009 season when prices began at a high of 

$9.00-9.50 for baled 5s and closed at an average of

$4.00 cwt lower in late February at a low of $6.50-

7.00 per bale. A few growers reported some quality

problems with potatoes at the end of the shipping 

season, and moved them at a discount. The season 

closed early around the first part of January. 

Movement: Early season (August-September) 

movement of the 2010 crop ignited at a record pace 

as shipments more than doubled over the previous 

season. Shipments through September were 

approximately 518 loads, compared to only 260 

loads for the same time frame in 2009. By 

November, the pace slowed to a more normal 

pattern, although movement remained well ahead 

(37 percent) of one year earlier. Supplies began to 

tighten in December as a few growers finished for 

the season, and shipments slowed sharply. The 

final movement report of the 2010 season was 

issued the end of January with around 1,400 loads 

recorded. The final total for the 2009 season was 

issued in late March 2009 with approximately 1,493 

loads shipped. 

Stocks: Stocks on hand December 1, 2010 for New 

York totaled 2.3 million hundredweight, down 4 

percent from the previous season total of 2.4

million cwt. Storage accounted for 48 percent of 

the potato crop, the same as the prior year. 

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. 
27 

NEW YORK CHIPPING POTATOES

2010 CROP

Statistics: According to the New York 

Agricultural Statistics Service, growers planted 

16,200 acres for the 2010 season, down another 

900 acres from each of the 2008 and 2009 seasons 

and the lowest level since NASS estimates began in 

1929. Harvested acres totaled a record low 16,000, 

500 less than the previous year. However, due to 

healthy yields, production increased slightly to 

5,120 million cwt, 3 percent above the 2009 level 

with an average yield of 320 cwt, which tied the 

record breaking yield of 320 cwt during the 2008 

season. Many chip growers reported huge yields, 

especially with the Andover variety. 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. 

According to NASS, the average price for the 2010 

season totaled $13.50 per cwt, a healthy increase 

from the previous season ($12.80) with the value of

production $69 million dollars ($63 million in 

2009). Nationally, potatoes used for chips and 

shoestrings totaled 54.7 million cwt, up sharply by

29 percent from the 2009 season. 

Growing and Harvest Season: Planting was 

underway slightly earlier than normal in late April

due to warm, dry Spring-like conditions. In early 

May, a series of cold fronts slowed progress, 

although most growers were glad to get some much 

needed rainfall. Warm temperatures spurred 

growth and by early June, a series of high pressure

fronts brought needed rains. Hot weather prevailed 

for much of the summer, with limited scattered 

showers reported. In October, there were some rain

delays during harvest, although most of the crop 

was undercover by the end of the month. 

Movement: Movement of out-of-the-field supplies 

began on schedule the first week in August and 

peaked in mid-September to mid-October with good 

yields. By the end of October, over 40 percent of 

the total crop had been moved. According to the 

Market News Service, movement for the 2010 

season totaled nearly 2.4 million cwt, up 12 percent 

from the previous season (2.13 million cwt) and the

largest chip season reported by Market News in 

recent years. The season ended the last week of 

May. 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, 2010 

totaled 2.3 million cwt, down from 2.4 million cwt. 

the previous year. Storage accounted for 48 percent

of the 2010 crop, the same as the previous season. 

By April 1, 500,000 cwt remained in storage, the 

same as the previous year and represented 10 

percent of storage potatoes. 
28 

MARKETING EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA POTATOES

2010 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 15,000 acres 

in 2010 compared to 15,000 acres in 2009 and 

14,000 acres in 2008. Production finished at 2.93 

million pounds compared to 3.38 million pounds in 

2009 and 2.52 million pounds in 2008. In 2010 

yield was 195 cwt. per acre compared to 225 cwt. in

2009 and 180 cwt. in 2008. 

Movement: According to the Market News 

Service, movement totaled 24.7 million pounds of 

table stock and an additional 201.8 million pounds 

of chip potatoes. The 2010 season started in mid to 

late June, slightly behind the 2009 season, and 

wrapped up in late July, quite a bit earlier than the 

previous year, which finished with shipments in mid

August. 

Growing & Harvest Season: During the months 

of February and January, North Carolina received 

widespread precipitation in the form of rain, snow 

and sleet. Average temperatures were below 

normal and field activities were limited due to 

continued cold weather and wet conditions. Spring 

planting preparations for Irish potatoes were not 

able to get underway until the month of March, but 

by the weekending March 28, 90 percent of the Irish

potato crop had been planted compared to 73 

percent last year. Statewide soil moisture levels 

were rated 1 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 

33 percent surplus. Planting wrapped up the 

weekending April 11 and crop conditions were 

rated as mostly good. Lack of significant rainfall

and above normal temperatures heading into May 

led the North Carolina Drought Advisory Council to 

designate 26 counties in central and southeastern 

North Carolina as abnormally dry the weekending 

May 02. The State finally received widespread 

showers during the weekending May 23 with some 

areas going from very short to surplus in soil 

moisture levels in a week’s time. Irish potato crop 

conditions were rated as 61 percent good by the 

USDA, NASS North Carolina Field Office. 

Harvest began in mid to late June. By the week 

ending June 27, 40 percent of the crop had been 

harvested compared to 46 percent in 2009. The 

State experienced scattered showers throughout the 

month of July and average temperatures were 

mostly above normal causing stress to most nonirrigated crops. By July 25, 100 percent of the Irish 

potato crop had been harvested compared to 96 

percent in 2009 and 97 percent for the 5 year 

average. 

Marketing Season: Prices this season for Round 

White U.S. One, size A 50-pound sacks were lower 

than the previous year. The first F.O.B. Shipping 

Point report was on July 09. Round White U.S. 

One, size A 50- pound sacks were $7.00-8.00 

compared to the first report of $11.00-$12.00 in 

2009. The last prices reported were on July 16 at 

$6.00-8.00 compared to $10.00 in 2009. The first 

F.O.B. Shipping Point price for Round Red U.S. 

No. One, size A tote bags approximately 2,000 

pounds per hundredweight (cwt) was on July 06 and 

ranged $26.00-30.00. The last price reported was 

on July 12 at $30.00. The first F.O.B. Shipping 

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

tote bags approximately 2,000 pounds per cwt was 

on July 06 and ranged $14.00-18.00. The last prices 

reported were on July 16 at $12.00-14.00. There 

were no prices reported for Round Red and Yellow 

Type U.S. No. One, size A 50-pound sacks due to 

supplies being insufficient and in too few hands to

establish a market. Chip Potatoes are sold bulk per 

cwt and were marketed in 2010 generally on a 

contract basis. The contract price on Round White 

Atlantics 85 percent or better U.S. One bulk per cwt 

was $9.50-10.00 compared to $10.75-11.75 in 2009. 

There was a small amount marketed on an open 

market basis with Round White Atlantics 85 percent 

or better U.S. No. One bulk per cwt at $9.00-10.75 

compared to $7.50-10.00 in 2009. 
29 

OHIO CHIPPING POTATOES

2010 CROP

Statistics: Ohio growers planted 2,200 acres in 

2010, 100 less than 2009 and 300 less than in 2008. 

Harvested potato acreage remained at 2,100 acres, 

the same as the previous two years, 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 suffered this season as well 

and was recorded at 290 cwt per acre, down from 

335 cwt per acre, which was a record high for the 

state. Production dipped 17 percent to 609,000 

cwt. from last season’s 704,000 cwt. The State’s 

chipping acreage was estimated near 600 acres. 

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 crop 

year totaled $12.30 per cwt, up sharply from $10.40

the previous season, with the value of production of 

nearly $7.5 million dollars ($7.3 million dollars in 

2009). Nationally, potatoes used for chips and 

shoestrings totaled 54.7 million cwt, up sharply by

29 percent from the 2009 season. 

 

Movement: The 2010 State’s chipping potato 

movement totaled 148,434 cwt, down 12 percent 

from the previous seasons finish of 168,880 cwt.,

according to the Market News Service. No open 

market sales were reported during the season as 

growers grew only previously contracted volume. 

Growing Season: Initial planting was underway in 

early April and progressed at a healthy pace; by 

mid-month, 26 percent of the crop had been planted,

10 percent ahead of the five-year average. Warmer 

temperatures coupled with adequate moisture 

continued through the month. By May 3, 48 

percent of the crop was in the ground. The 

following few weeks slowed planting progress with 

above normal rainfall and below normal 

temperatures. Warmer weather returned at the end 

of the month, and planting progress jumped to 81 

percent. Most growers were finished in early June. 

Temperatures remained above normal during the 

growing period with adequate moisture. 

Harvesting Season: Initial harvest was underway 

in late July with above normal temperatures. 

Temperatures remained warm with drier conditions 

for most of August. By mid-month, harvested 

potatoes were 52 percent, ahead of the five-year 

average of 16 percent. September brought milder 

temperatures for most of the month and good 

harvesting progress. By mid-October, the harvest 

was completed. 

Stocks on hand: The National Agricultural 

Statistics Service discontinued monthly potato 

stocks reports for Ohio for the 2005 season. 
30 

PENNSYLVANIA CHIPPING POTATOES

2010 CROP

Statistics: Pennsylvania harvested 9,000 acres of 

potatoes, 500 acres less than the previous season 

and the lowest harvested acreage on record, 

according to the Pennsylvania Agricultural 

Statistics Service. Approximately 3,200-3,400 

acres were planted in chipping potatoes, with the 

predominant plantings in the Northwestern, East 

Central and Central districts of the state. 

Production of 2.2 million cwt decreased 25 percent 

from the previous crop year (2.9 million cwt) with 

yields of only 245 cwt per acre compared to the 

record yield of 310 cwt per acre last season. 

Predominant chipping varieties grown were 

Atlantic, Snowden, Pike, Andover and Marcy. 

According to NASS, the average price received for 

the 2010 crop was $12.10 cwt, down .60 cents from 

the 2009 season ($12.70). The value of production 

totaled nearly $27 million dollars for the crop year, 

down $10 million dollars from 2009. Nationally, 

potatoes used for chips and shoestrings totaled 54.7 

million cwt, up sharply (29 percent) from the 2009 

season. 

Growing Season: Planting was underway by midApril with favorable weather conditions. Scattered

showers in early May slowed planting progress 

slightly, although by May 10, 52 percent of the crop 

had been planted, ahead of both last year’s 24 

percent and the five-year average of 44 percent. 

Progress slowed due to widespread cold 

temperatures and scattered reports of frost midmonth. By June 1st, 99 percent of the crop had 

been planted, well ahead of the five-year average of 

89 percent. Temperatures during June remained 

above normal with high humidity, thunderstorms 

and some hail storms. By July 4th, some drought 

conditions prevailed around the state, which 

affected potato yields. 

Harvesting Season: Initial harvest of field 

supplies began the last week of July. By the end of 

August, only 19 percent of the crop had been 

harvested, behind a year ago with 27 percent and 

the five-year average of 22 percent. The hot and 

dry weather continued well into September; by midmonth, only 26 percent of the harvest had been 

completed, well behind the 5-year average of 42 

percent. Heavy rains sharply slowed harvest going

into October. By mid-month, scattered frosts and 

cooler temperatures continued to slow harvesting. 

By the last week of the month, 99 percent of the 

crop was under cover, slightly ahead of the 5 year 

average of 98 percent. Heavy rains and frost 

brought the season to a close the first of November. 

Shipments peaked with field supplies late August 

through September. The shipping season concluded 

on a normal schedule and was generally completed 

by April 1 with a total of 909,930 cwt, a 12 percent 

increase from the previous year (815,585 cwt) 

according to the Market News Service. No open 

market prices were reported this year as most 

growers planted for contracted sales only. 
31 

MARKETING VIRGINIA POTATOES

2010 CROP

Harvesting & Marketing: Harvest of the 

2010 Virginia potato crop began in mid-June 

although supplies were very light until the last 

week of the month. Virginia Market News 

Service began reporting shipping point prices 

on June 24 with the first F.O.B. Eastern Shore 

price quoted at $9.00 per 50-pound sack of 

Round White, U.S. One, Size A potatoes. At 

the start of the harvest, demand was fairly 

light for Round White potatoes due to 

plentiful supplies in competing areas. By June 

30, prices began to fall as a result of the light 

demand and sales were reported in a range of 

$8.00-9.00. On July 6, prices decreased to 

$8.00 per 50-pound sack. Prices remained at 

mostly $8.00 until later in the month and 

demand was generally fairly light to moderate. 

On July 22, the price decreased to mostly 

$7.00-8.00 per 50-pound sack. The last 

reported price was on July 27. By July 28, 

supplies were light and in too few hands to 

report as practically all growers had finished 

harvesting. Demand for Round White potatoes 

was disappointing in 2010 and many growers 

complained about the slow movement of the 

crop. Prices were also down considerably 

from the previous two years. 

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

Round White potatoes were first reported on 

June 24 at $12.00 per 50-pound sack. Prices 

remained at mostly $12.00 throughout the 

entire season. During 2010, demand for Chef 

potatoes was slightly better than it was for the 

Round White Size A potatoes. 

Russet potatoes continue to be an important 

crop for many Virginia growers; however, 

supplies of Russet potatoes on the Eastern 

Shore were down significantly in 2010. 

Harvesting of Russets occurred primarily 

during a two week period between July 12 and 

July 26. Demand for Virginia Russets was 

generally moderate throughout the season. 

During 2010, 50-pound sacks of Size A 

Russets were mostly $8.00 compared to $6.00-

8.00 in 2009 and $13.00-14.00 in 2008. Prices 

for tote bags were generally $16.00 per 

hundredweight compared to $10.00-14.00 per 

hundredweight in 2009 and $23.00-28.00 in 

2008. 

Round Red prices were first reported on June 

24 at $12.00 for 50-pound sacks of U.S. One, 

Size A and $14.00 for Size B. Unlike Round 

White potatoes, demand was good for Red 

potatoes throughout the season. Round Red 

prices increased to $15.00 for Size A and 

$17.00 for Size B by the end of June. By July 

6, prices increased to $16.00 for Size A and 

$18.00 for Size B. The price of Size B 

increased to as high as $20.00 on July 8. 

Throughout most of Virginia’s 2010 season, 

demand for Round Red potatoes exceeded 

available supplies and the result was high 

prices and good movement. 
32 

Yellow flesh potato prices were first reported 

on July 8 at $14.00 for 50-pound sacks of U.S. 

One Size A. Prices were mostly $12.00-14.00 

from July 9 until July 16. By July 19, the price 

was $12.00 and remained at that level for the 

rest of the season. Demand was generally 

moderate for Yellow flesh potatoes throughout 

the season. Market conditions were a little 

disappointing for growers compared to 2008 

and 2009 when prices ranged between $18.00 

and $20.00 per 50-pound sack. 

Weather: Weather conditions caused many 

problems for Virginia potato growers during 

2010. Wet conditions in February and March 

delayed planting and caused problems during 

the early stages of development. By April, dry 

conditions took over with less than one inch of 

rain recorded at the Eastern Shore Agricultural 

Research Center in Painter compared to the 

70-year average of over 3 inches. The dry 

conditions continued in May and June and 

peaked in July with only 1.33 inches of rain 

recorded compared to the 70-year average of 

4.59 inches. Although growers irrigated as 

much as possible, the dry conditions lowered 

yields for the crop. 

Another major factor related to weather was 

heat. The higher than normal temperatures 

began in early June and continued for the 

entire season. During one week in late June, 

temperatures reached 98 degrees or higher for 

five of the seven days. In July, there were four 

days with temperatures recorded at 100 

degrees or higher at the Eastern Shore 

Agricultural Research Center in Painter. 

Unfortunately, the brutally hot conditions took 

its toll on quality. Many growers suffered 

significant losses as a result of extreme heat. 

Production & Quality: Total Virginia 

production in 2010 was estimated at 1,140,000 

hundredweight (cwt) by the National 

Agricultural Statistics Service, compared to 

1,656,000 cwt in 2009, 1,254,000 cwt in 2008, 

1,134,000 cwt in 2007 and 1,512,000 cwt in 

2006. Production in 2010 was the lowest total 

since 1,029,000 cwt in 2005. The decrease in 

production during 2010 can be attributed to 

reduced yields and crop losses caused by hot 

and dry conditions. 

Although Virginia growers typically produce a 

very high quality crop, during 2010 there were 

quality problems as a result of the heat. Heat 

necrosis, internal discoloration, internal break 

down and soft rot were problems reported by 

many growers. For the most part, 2010 was a 

year Virginia potato growers would like to 

forget. 

Shipments: Shipments of Virginia potatoes 

were down significantly in 2010. 

Approximately 1,169 truck lot equivalents 

(50,000 pounds) were shipped in 2010 

compared to 1,761 in 2009, 1,470 in 2008 and 

1,459 in 2007. The decrease in shipments was 

a result of reduced yields and crop losses due 

to hot and dry conditions. 

Shipments during June 2010 accounted for 

approximately 9 percent of the crop, totaling 
33 

107 loads compared to 187 loads in June 2009 

and 201 loads in June 2008. In July 2010, 

1,053 loads were shipped compared to 1,245 

loads in July 2009 and 1,263 loads in July 

2008. July 2010 shipments accounted for 90 

percent of the crop compared to 70.5 percent 

in July 2009. Crop losses due to the extremely 

hot conditions caused only 9 loads (less than 1 

percent of the crop) to be shipped in August 

2010 compared to August 2009 when 329 

loads or 19 percent of the crop was shipped. 

Weather conditions were so severe in 2010 

that there were very few marketable potatoes 

available by the time August arrived. 

Packaging: Potatoes were sold in 50-pound 

sacks, baled 5- and 10-pounds bags, loose 5- 

and 10-pounds bags and canvas totes. Both 

paper and poly bags were utilized. Mark-ups 

for packaging fluctuated but were typically 

$2.50-3.00 per cwt for loose 10-pound bags, 

$3.00-4.00 per cwt for baled 10-pound bags 

and $5.00-6.00 per cwt for baled 5-pound 

bags. 

Due to the extremely hot conditions in 2010, 

growers preferred using 50-pound sacks in 

favor of canvas totes since potatoes are less 

susceptible to heat damage in the sacks. 

Potatoes sold in 50-pound sacks accounted for 

approximately 74 percent of inspected 

potatoes in 2010 compared to 33 percent in 

2009 and 40 percent in 2008. Potatoes shipped 

in bulk in 2010 accounted for only 20 percent, 

down significantly from approximately 50 

percent in 2008 and 2009. Consumer sized 5- 

and 10-pound bags accounted for 

approximately 6 percent of the inspected 

potatoes, down from 16 percent in 2009 and 

10 percent in 2008. 

Markets & Competition: Although 

production was down in Virginia due to 

decreased yields, supplies of potatoes in 

competing areas were plentiful during the 

summer of 2010. Supplies of storage potatoes 

in June were up approximately 13 percent 

which led to increased competition from the 

western states. In addition, cold weather 

caused delays to Florida’s crop which resulted 

in their harvest continuing longer than normal. 

This in turn caused a longer than normal 

overlap with Virginia’s marketing season. As 

always, new crop potatoes from North 

Carolina and California pressured prices 

throughout much of the summer. The 

abundance of new crop potatoes compounded 

with heavy supplies of low priced storage 

potatoes, made it a struggle at times for 

Virginia growers to market their potatoes. 

Canada has been an important market for 

Virginia potato growers in the past but 

unfortunately, shipments to Canada continued 

to be low in 2010. Virginia potato growers 

shipped only 60 loads (50,000 pounds) to 

Canada in 2010 compared to 108 loads in 

2009, 61 loads in 2008 and 94 loads in 2007. 

Over the past five years, Virginia growers 

have shipped an average of 102 loads per year 

to Canada. Of the loads shipped to Canada in 

2010, 95 percent were 50-pound sacks and 5 

percent were 10-pound bags. 
34 

VIRGINIA CHIP POTATOES

2010 CROP

Chipstock potatoes continue to be a very 

important part of Virginia’s potato crop and 

in 2010 they represented nearly half of the 

total shipments. The vast majority of 

chipstock sales were preseason contracts and 

were mostly $10.00 per cwt. Unfortunately, 

the heat took its toll on the crop causing 

quality problems, lower yields and 

decreased production for many growers. As 

a result, there were very few open market 

sales. The few open market sales that did 

occur were at prices near the contract value. 

Varieties: Of the 135.5 loads (50,000 

pounds) of seed imported and inspected 

during the 2010 season, Superiors accounted 

for over 25 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 nearly 10 percent of potatoes 

planted in 2010 and it was the third most 

popular of all varieties grown. 

Chipping varieties accounted for the second, 

fourth and fifth most popular with Atlantic 

at 12.2 percent, Snowden at 7.8 percent and 

FL-1867, a Frito Lay variety, at 6.6 percent. 

Use of the Atlantic variety increased 

substantially in 2010 following decreases in 

2008 and 2009. 

 

Use of Russet potatoes dropped significantly 

in 2010. Russet varieties accounted for 

slightly over 12 percent of the potatoes 

planted in 2010 compared to 21 percent in 

2009, 20 percent in 2008, 13 percent in 2007 

and 15.5 percent in 2006. The top Russet 

varieties included the sixth ranked Gold 

Rush at 5.2 percent and seventh ranked 

Norkotah at 5.1 percent. 

Red potatoes continue to play an important 

role for Virginia potato growers with the 

Red Norland the ninth most popular at 3.8 

percent. All Red varieties accounted for 

slightly under 10 percent in 2010 compared 

to 8 percent in 2009. Red potatoes have 

ranged between 7 percent and 10 percent 

since 2003 after accounting for 14 percent in 

2002. 

The Yellow flesh Yukon Gold was the 

eighth most popular at 4.2 percent, a 

significant increase from approximately 2 

percent in 2009. The Satina variety 

accounted for approximately 1.7 percent, 

down slightly from 2009. Yellow flesh 

varieties accounted for nearly 8 percent of 

the potatoes grown in 2010, the highest 

percentage since 9 percent in 2001. Between 

2002 and 2008, Yellow potatoes ranged 

between 4 percent and 6 percent. 
35 

VIRGINIA SEED POTATOES

2010 CROP

Virginia Seed Potato Import Record 

Virginia Market News Service, Onley, VA 

Receipts of seed potatoes 2010

by varieties for Accomack 

and Northampton Counties. 

Amounts are 50,000 LB units. 

2009 2008 2007 

Superior 34.64 29.40 20.95 28.15 

Atlantic 16.48 9.24 10.70 11.72 

Envol 13.15 15.61 10.49 5.08 

Snowden 10.57 8.12 6.07 9.08 

FL-1867 9.00 10.00 11.10 9.12 

Gold Rush 7.08 8.01 7.25 6.57 

Norkotah 6.95 17.55 10.50 9.18 

Yukon Gold 5.75 2.54 4.14 4.54 

Red Norland 5.18 4.74 5.13 3.56 

Andover 3.39 6.93 6.61 11.20 

Eva 3.08 0.86 ----- 

Red Lasoda 2.60 1.60 0.88 0.84 

Silverton 2.60 0.88 1.58 

Satina 2.32 3.03 1.76 1.72 

Dark Red Norland 1.98 0.50 3.29 6.57 

Reba 1.87 2.01 6.30 

Modoc 1.70 1.88 0.04 ----- 

Villetta Rose 1.62 1.80 0.73 0.20 

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

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

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

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

Beacon Chipper 0.72 0.94 ----- 

Vivaldi 0.56 ----- ----- ----- 

Dakota Crisp 0.48 0.86 ----- 

Innovator 0.86 ----- 

Peribonka 0.85 0.84 

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

Nordonna 0.52 0.40 

Gala 0.16 0.03 ---- 

Blazer Russet 1.06 ----- 

LaChipper 3.45 

Others 2.76 

Total 135.5 135.2 105.2 120.4 
36 

MARKETING COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTONUMATILLA BASIN OREGON POTATOES

2010 CROP

Acreage & Production: According to the National 

Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington planted

acreage was 135,000 acres in 2010, a decrease from 

2009s 145,000 acres. Harvested acreage in 2010 

was 134,000 acres, a 6 percent decrease from 2009s 

acres. Washington’s yield per acre in 2010 was 660

hundredweight (cwt), an 8 percent increase from 

2009s yield. Washington’s production in 2010 was 

88,440,000 cwt, a slight increase from 2009s 

production of 87,230 cwt. Umatilla Basin Oregon 

planted & harvested acreage was 10,000 acres in 

2010, a 9 percent decrease from 2009s planted and 

harvested acreage of 11,000. Umatilla Basin 

Oregon’s yield in 2010 was 650 cwt per acre, a 24 

percent increase from 2009s yield of 635 cwt per 

acre. Umatilla Basin Oregon’s production in 2010 

was 6,500,000 cwt, a 7 percent decrease from 2009s 

production of 6,985,000 cwt. 

Shipments: Shipments for the 2010 season for 

Columbia Basin Washington were 7,807,969 cwt, 

of which 1,499,163 cwt were exports. This was a 9 

percent increase from 2009s shipments of 7,130,676 

cwt, of which 1,277,276 cwt were exports. 

Shipments for the 2010 season for Umatilla Basin 

Oregon were 1,829,005 cwt, of which 313,739 cwt 

were exports. This was a slight increase from 2009s 

shipments of 1,827,735 cwt, of which 200,625 cwt 

were exports. 

The peak shipping month was August 2010 with 

1,191,018 cwt shipped for the Columbia Basin 

Washington, and June 2011 with 183,846 cwt 

shipped for Umatilla Basin Oregon. 

Crop & Weather: Lack of moisture continued to 

be foremost on Columbia Basin farmers mind the 

end of March 2009. Potato planting was advanced 

in Grant and Franklin counties. Statewide, planting 

was 15 percent planted, compared to just 1 percent 

in 2009. 

During the first week in April, low temperatures 

were prevalent and recent rain improved moisture 

conditions in dry land areas of the country. During 

the weekending April 18, planting continued in 

Grant County. Warm, dry days returned which 

helped out growers. During the last week in April,

a very significant storm system laid down heavy 

rains throughout the Palouse and Central 

Washington region. Planting continued in Grant 

County. Statewide, 81 percent of the crop had been

planted, compared to 68 percent in 2009. Crop 

emergence was 15 percent compared to 14 percent 

in 2009. 

High winds and cold temperatures were prevalent 

the first week in May. Klickitat County received 

winds topping 50 mph, rain mixed with hail, and the

hardest frost seen in weeks. Early potato sprouts 

froze in home gardens. In Walla Walla County 

most of the potatoes had been planted. By midMay, planting was in full swing in Franklin County. 

In Franklin County, during the last week of May, 

temperatures averaged around normal, though were 

up and down pretty sporadically with rain showers 

and a couple thunderstorms which caused planting 

progress to slow. In Walla Walla County, many 

crops were growing well with the added 

precipitation. 

By the first week of June, Statewide, 100 percent of 

the crop had been planted and 91 percent had 

emerged. Fields started blooming in Yakima 

County by mid-June. By the end of June, new 

potatoes were making it to the table from home 

gardens in Klickitat County. 

Light potato harvest had begun by the 4th of July 

and by the 1st of August it was progressing across 

the State. By the weekending August 22 it had 

become apparent that harvest would be later than 

usual in Walla Walla County. The following week 

in Franklin County, temperatures were cooler than 

normal with some minor precipitation. Growers 

were able to harvest despite these conditions. 

By the end of the first week in September, 

Statewide, potatoes had been 28 percent harvested 

compared to 52 percent in 2009. During the 

weekending September 12, producers were taking 

precautions to avoid the first frost occurring with
37 

their potatoes still in the ground by harvesting more 

potatoes than they had originally intended. In 

Franklin County the following week, temperatures 

were normal to cooler than normal. A thunderstorm 

over the weekend brought precipitation totals for 

September up to twice the normal amount. Potato 

harvest was able to continue. However, in Walla 

Walla County, harvest was curtailed due to the rain

the region was receiving. During the weekending 

September 26, temperatures were moderate with 

some fair heating days throughout the week. 

However, a heavy rain shower the fell the night and

morning of September 18 & 19 dumping .75 to a 

little over an inch of rain throughout the country. 

Potato was slowed somewhat by the wet weather 

with the exception of Grant County as harvest was 

able to begin. 

The first week of October saw potato harvest 

between the early and late varieties. Potatoes were 

64 percent harvested Statewide, compared to 70 

percent in 2009. Harvest continued in Franklin 

County, though on a slower than normal track. By 

mid-October, fall had arrived in Walla Walla. 

Temperatures dropped into the low 30s at night and 

the area received the first frost of the season. 

Temperatures were still getting up into the 60s 

during the day and harvest was underway across the 

County. Harvest was generally complete by the 

first week of November. 

By the first week in April, even though progress had 

been slowed by cold weather, crops were ahead of 

schedule as the 2010 crop was 50 percent planted in

the Umatilla Basin Oregon growing region. 

Entomologists say that insect populations were a 

generation ahead. The first week of April was cold

and wet for most of the State. Out of 43 stations, 30 

reported temperatures below freezing and 29 

reported at least 5 days of precipitation. Frost 

damage continued to be a concern the following 

week as 32 out of 43 stations reported sub-freezing

temperatures. 38 stations reported lower than 

normal average temperatures and only 11 reported 

more than 2 growing degree days. However, the 

weekending April 18 saw above normal 

temperatures across the State and more normal 

precipitation. The spring conditions continued for

the rest of the month with mild temperatures and 

light rain. 

Cooler than normal temperatures returned the first 

part of May and wet weather limited fieldwork. 

Unseasonably low temperatures prevailed across the 

State the following week. 25 out of 43 stations 

reported temperatures below freezing. 20 stations 

reported more than 2 days of rain, but 22 stations 

remain more than an inch behind normal cumulative 

precipitation for that time of the year. High winds 

caused damage to some row crops. The 

weekending May 23 was another cool, rainy week 

and the month ended with similar weather. All but 

2 stations reported temperatures below average for 

the time of year and 32 of the 43 stations received

precipitation. 

By mid-June, after weeks of cool, wet weather, the 

sun came out and warmed up most of Oregon. The 

cold, wet weather of May that continued into June 

put everything behind schedule. Potato acreage was

down. Conditions warmed up throughout the month 

with some light moisture reported. 

By mid-July conditions were hot and dry 

throughout the State. Weather had warmed up to 

more normal temperatures. Full season potatoes 

were looking good by mid-August but the jury was 

still out on the condition of the short season 

potatoes. The last week of August was another 

warm, dry week in Umatilla. Potato harvest had 

started with Rangers with average to below average 

yields. Nighttime temperatures were cool with a 

new record low being set at 40 degrees. The 

unseasonably cool temperatures continued through 

September. Potato harvest continued and yields 

rose to more average levels. Harvest was generally

complete by the end of October. 

Marketing: The first report of Round Reds was 

issued during the weekending July 24, 2010. 50-

pound cartons of U.S. One size A was $14.00-

16.00. The last report was issued during the 

weekending August 28, 2010 at $12.00-13.00. 

The first report of Yellow Type was issued during 

weekending July 24, 2010. 50-pound cartons of 

U.S. One size A was $12.00-14.00. The last report 

was issued the weekending August 21, 2010 at 

$10.00-12.00. 

The first report of Russet Norkotahs was issued 

during the weekending July 31, 2010. 50-pound 

cartons of U.S. One 70s was $14.00-15.00. The last

report was issued during the weekending July 30, 

2011 at $ 18.00-20.00. 
38 

MARKETING NORTHWEST WASHINGTON POTATOES

2010 CROP

Acreage & Production: According to the National 

Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington planted

acreage was 135,000 acres in 2010, a decrease from 

2009s 145,000 acres. Harvested acreage in 2010 

was 134,000 acres, a decrease from 2009s 143,000 

acres. Washington’s yield per acre in 2010 was 660

hundredweight (cwt), an eight percent increase from

2009s yield of 610 cwt. Washington’s production 

in 2010 was 88,440,000 cwt, a one percent increase 

from 2009s production of 87,230,000 cwt. 

Shipments: Shipments of fresh-table stock potatoes 

out of Northwestern Washington for the 2010 crop 

was 1,190,900 cwt total which includes 59,100 cwt 

shipped by piggyback, 930,000 cwt domestic by 

truck, and 201,800 cwt export by truck. The 2010 

crop shipments by variety are: Round Red 655,800 

cwt domestic, 100,400 cwt export; Yellow Type 

148,600 cwt domestic, 44,600 cwt export; Long 

White 120,900 cwt domestic, 56,600 cwt export; 

and Mixed Varieties 1,500 cwt domestic, 200 cwt 

export. These variety shipments do not include 

anything shipped by Piggyback. 2010 saw 

shipments peak seasonally for the Thanksgiving 

Holiday the weekending November 20 with 65,400 

cwt shipped. The majority of the potato crop out of 

this District is of the Round Red variety. Also 

grown, packed and shipped are Yellow Type, Long 

White, and a small amount of Russets. The first 

shipments for the 2010 season were moved on the 

weekending September 11, 2010 and the last 

shipments of the season were on weekending May 

28, 2011. The Round Reds shipped throughout the 

season. The Long Whites were not moved this 

season after mid-February, and Yellow Type was 

done by mid-April. 

Crop & Weather: Planting started on time but was 

reportedly behind by weekending May 3rd. Rain 

and wet weather persisted over the month of May 

with reports weekending June 5 that most planting 

was still behind schedule. Mid-June saw reports of 

standing water in fields. Planting continued into late 

June as producers were delayed by wet weather and 

needed to wait for fields to finish drying out. 

Weekending July 4 saw the first reports of potato 

fields in Northwestern Washington being disked up 

due to excessive rain in the fields. 

July continued with good temperatures which lasted 

into August. Potato vines were being mowed down 

and harvest was expected to begin by the end of the

month. Measurable rain arrived during weekending 

September 7, slowing down plans for an early 

harvest. By weekending September 24 potato 

harvest continued with low yields due to the wet 

spring and late summer temperatures. 

Harvesting: Weather is an extremely important 

factor in growing and harvesting the Northwestern 

Washington potato crop around the Mount 

Vernon/Burlington area of Skagit County. Seasonal 

rainfall for that area is normally 26 inches per year. 

Much of the soil type in the area used for potatoes is 

a sandy loam. Many fields also have drainage 

systems installed. Growers are able to harvest 

potatoes even in wet rainy weather, because they 

have grown the potatoes in sandy soil in fields that 

have the drainage systems. Also, most of the Long 

White variety are not harvested and put into storage. 

They are harvested and packaged late into the year.

Often, harvest of Long Whites continues the 

following spring. The Long Whites do not store 

well and quality cannot be maintained. Most of the 

Northwest Washington potato crop is put into 

storage. 

Marketing: The USDA, AMS, Fruit and 

Vegetable Market News reported prices out of 

Northwestern Washington from weekending 

September 11, 2010 through April 16, 2011 on 

Round Red; September 11, 2010 through January 1, 

2011 on Long White; and Yellow Type ran from 

September 11, 2010 through the week of February 

26, 2011. Round Red 50-pound cartons size A 

started out at $20.00 per carton, finishing at $16.00-

18.00, mostly $18.00. The season basically did not 

deviate from the start to finish, with long periods

from September to January were the price held 

steady at $20.00 and January to April were the price 

held steady at $18.00 Long White 50- pound 

cartons started at $20.00 weekending September 11, 

2010 and finished at $18.00-20.00, mostly $20.00 

weekending January 1, 2011. The Long White 

price barely deviated from the $20.00 throughout 

the season. Yellow Type 50-pound cartons started 

out at $20.00-22.00, mostly $20.00 per carton. The

season finished at the same $18.00-22.00, mostly 

$18.00-20.00. Supplies of Russet Norkotah and 

Fingerling were in too few hands to establish a 

market. 
39 

MARKETING CENTRAL WISCONSIN POTATOES

2010 CROP

Acreage & Production: According to the USDA 

National Agricultural Statistics Service, Wisconsin

potato planted acreage in 2010 was 62,500 acres, less 

than 2009s 63,500 acres. Harvested acreage in 2010

was 61,500 acres, less than 2009s 63,000 acres. Yield 

per acres was 395 hundredweight (cwt) in 2010, a 

decrease from 2009s yield of 460 cwt. Production in 

2010 was 24,293,000 cwt, a sixteen percent decrease

from 2009s production of 28,980,000 cwt. 

Shipments: Shipments from Central Wisconsin in 

2010 were 6,129,000, a twenty-five percent decrease

from 2009s shipments of 8,178,800 cwt. The peak 

shipping month was October at 900,600 cwt. All of 

the potatoes were shipped by truck. There are no rail 

shipments out of Wisconsin. 

Crop & Weather: Dry fields greeted producers 

during the weekending April 17th when planting 

began. Average temperatures were above to normal 

with average highs from the mid 60s to 70 degrees 

and average lows ranging from low to mid 40s. 

During the last week of April and first week of May, 

most areas of the State saw some sort of precipitation, 

but not enough to counteract the early part of the year. 

Rainfall averages were reported to be 1-2.5 inches 

below normal. Potato planting was reported to be on

track with a good pace at the end of April. 

During the first week of May rainfall arrived, but not 

enough. Average high temperatures ranged from 59-

65 degrees by weekending May 12 with reports of 

potatoes emerging in Portage County. Potato planting 

continues to progress during the week ending May 

17th across the northern parts of the State. Warmer 

conditions during the weekending May 26 with 

temperatures averaging 67-76 degrees allowed for 

planting to continue at a good pace. 

The beginning of June saw scattered rain showers 

across the State helping some producers. By the 

weekending June 14th rainfall covered most of the 

State bringing cooler temperatures along with the 

bloom of potatoes. The weekending June 21 saw 

more rainfall across the State leaving some fields with 

standing water. By the end of June, potatoes were 

blooming and showing good growth. 

By mid-July, potatoes were doing well with some 

areas harvesting of some early varieties by 

weekending July 12th. Excessive rain at this time had 

some reports of potatoes rotting in the ground. 

Average high temperatures ranged from 84 to 87 

degrees, with average low temperatures ranging from

66 to 72 degrees. 

Fresh potato harvest began in earnest at the beginning 

of August. It wasn’t until weekending August 9th that 

the fields finally began to dry out from the excessive 

rain of July. But by the weekending August 16, 

harvest was once again slowed by rain in the central 

part of the State. Harvest continued throughout the 

month of August and into September. By midSeptember, harvest was just starting in one westcentral Wisconsin county, while late harvest was 

underway in the central part of the State. Harvest

continued through September. 

Marketing: The first report of Round Reds was 

issued during the week-ending August 14, 2010. 50-

pound sacks of U.S. One size A was $10.75-11.50, 

mostly $11.00-11.50. The last report was issue during 

the weekending Janurary 15, 2011 at $.850-10.00. 

The first report of Round Whites was issued during 

the weekending August 21, 2010. 50-pound sacks of 

U.S. One size A was $6.50-7.00. The last report was 

issued during the weekending October 9, 2010 at 

$6.00-6.50. 

The first report of Yellow Types was issued during 

the weekending August 21, 2010. 50-pound cartons 

of U.S. One size A were $13.00-14.50, mostly 

$13.00-14.00. The last report was issued during the 

weekending November 13, 2010 at $12.00-13.50, 

mostly $13.00. 

The first report of Russet Norkotahs was issued 

during the weekending August 21, 2010. 50-pound 

cartons of U.S. One 70s was $15.00-16.00. The last

report was issued during the weekending July 16, 

2010 at $22.00-25.00, mostly $23.00-24.00. 

No prices were issued for chipper potatoes in the 

2010 season as most movement was contracted or 

open sales were in the hands of too few grower, with 

too few prices reported to establish a market.
40 

MARKETING NEW BRUNSWICK POTATOES

2010 CROP

Production: According to Statistics Canada, New 

Brunswick potato production totaled 15.1 million

hundredweight, up 3 percent from the 2009 

season total of 14.7 million cwt and 14.1 million 

cwt from the 2008 season. The July 2011 

production report placed harvested acreage at 

51,300 acres, 3.200 acres below the previous two 

seasons. Yields increased (25 cwt) to 295 cwt per 

acre over the previous season and 35 cwt from the 

2008 season (260 cwt). Total Canadian 

production of nearly 97.3 million cwt was reported 

for the year, down 4 percent and 6 percent

respectively from the previous two crop years. 

Movement: Early movement (SeptemberDecember) to the U.S. (754,040 cwt) was nearly the 

same as the previous season total for the same time

period (752,546 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 2011 of 2.7 million cwt. increased 

sharply (35 percent) from the 2009 season through 

the same date (1.9 million cwt.) The U.S. was the 

number one destination for much of New 

Brunswick potatoes, namely Russet varieties. 

Access to the States is made through the major 

border crossing at Houlton, Maine, with lighter 

shipments entering through Fort Fairfield and 

Bridgewater, Maine. Light shipments of the 2010 

crop continued through most of August by a few 

shippers. New Brunswick has predominantly been 

a processing (french-fry) region, with nearly 60 

percent of production devoted to this market. It is 

also the original home of McCain Foods, one of the 

giants in the fry industry. There are two McCain 

processing plants in the province, Grand Falls and 

Florenceville. 

Growing and Harvest Season

Planting was off to an early start due to mild spring 

conditions in early May. Planting was completed 

by early June. The early summer months brought 

warmer temperatures and wetter conditions that 

spurred rapid tuber growth. The latter half of the 

summer brought drier conditions, with low disease 

and insect pressure. Initial light harvest of Round 

white and Yellows was underway by September 1 

for domestic usage, while Russet harvest 

commenced mid-month. October brought cooler 

temperatures and persistent showers that slowed the

harvest pace. By the end of the month, most of the 

crop was undercover. 

Marketing Season: The U.S. Department of 

Agriculture Market News Service issued the first 

F.O.B. Shipping Point report on Russet Norkotah 

late-October with U.S. One or Canada No. One 

washed 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled 10 5-

pound film bags from $7.50-8.00, $1.00 per bale 

over the 2009 season. Baled 5 10-pound film bags 

trailed the 5s price by 50-1.00 cents for much of the 

season. Prices rose slightly by mid-January to 

$8.50-9.00, a turnabout from the 2009 season, when 

prices went south as the season progressed. Prices

continued to rise during the rest of the season, and 

at the time of the last report issued in late July,

baled 5s ranged from $12.50-13.00, much stronger 

than the previous season’s finish in early July 2010 

of $6.00-7.00 per bale. 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 recorded. Russet 

Norkotah U.S. One or Canada No. One tote bags 

(approximately 2000 pounds) were shipped to the 

States with moderate demand beginning in midDecember with 5-9 ounce from $14.00-16.00 cwt 

and in early January 4-9 ounce sizes ranged from 

$11.50-12.50. Tote prices grew stronger as the 

season progressed with 4-9 ounce totes at season’s 

end in late June were priced from $14.50-16.00 per 

cwt. 

 

Stocks on hand: New Brunswick’s potato 

holdings on December 1, 2010 totaled 12.4 million 

cwt, up 9 percent from December 2009 holdings of 

11.4 million cwt. Total Canadian holdings for that 

date totaled 70.4 million cwt., down slightly (3 

percent) from the previous year (7.28 million cwt.)

By June 1, stocks on hand for the province 4 

million cwt, up sharply from the previous year’s 

holdings of 3 million cwt. Total Canada stocks at 

the same time of 15.7 million cwt were up slightly 

(1 percent) from the previous years’ total of 15.6 

million cwt. A few fresh shippers continued to pack 

lightly for the U.S. market through most of August.
Commodity Name POTATOESSum of 100000lb units Column LabelsRow Labels Aug-10 Sep-10 Oct-10 Nov-10 Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 ARIZONA 305 CALIFORNIA-CENTRAL 334 112 9 85 148 262 211 102 18 547 CALIFORNIA-IMPERIAL VAL 14 149 127 CALIFORNIA-NORTH 25 25 60 95 68 62 64 77 79 63 CALIFORNIA-SOUTH 107 78 45 32 40 46 14 CANADA 111 208 338 458 462 500 417 620 551 420 COLORADO 425 1105 1214 1565 1560 1640 1523 1548 1289 1223 DELAWARE 131 51 FLORIDA 6 112 480 1127 1114 IDAHO 2676 2385 2766 3234 3010 2930 2732 3156 2986 2825 KANSAS 447 37 MAINE 15 53 141 351 385 396 297 282 191 100 MICHIGAN 120 202 219 219 282 268 179 151 135 103 MINNESOTA 813 488 232 159 164 149 90 59 42 18 NEBRASKA 245 407 374 417 304 177 125 187 290 243 NEVADA 40 18 108 99 74 140 110 94 111 108 NEW MEXICO 33 88 141 65 95 82 46 125 26 NEW YORK 55 168 141 144 70 19 NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA 5 188 391 434 398 465 347 390 164 30 OREGON 151 173 242 323 271 277 279 297 285 229 TEXAS 362 236 212 138 121 144 0 0 0 0 VIRGINIA WASHINGTON 1211 1292 884 787 669 585 541 749 654 526 WISCONSIN 445 845 900 865 743 726 538 465 403 338 Grand Total 7718 8104 8364 9546 8834 8887 7661 8717 8599 8345