August 14, 2009

Idaho Potatoes

Market Snapshot*

The U.S. Department of Agriculture was reporting the following prices for 50-pound cartons of U.S. No. 1 Grade (2-inch or 4-ounce minimum) 2009 crop russet norkotah potatoes from Idaho:

Sizes 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, $13-14; 80s, $11-13; 90s, mostly $9; 100s, mostly $8-9.

* Prices from the USDA's Fruit & Vegetable Market News, Aug. 13.

The Shipping Scene

A wet, cool spring in Idaho gave way to warm days and cool nights this summer, which equal favorable growing conditions that will translate into a good-quality crop of Idaho potatoes, grower-shippers say.

Two of the Parma-based Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato Committee sheds started digging the week of Aug. 3, and five or six more were set to start this week, said manager Bob Hansen.

It's too early to tell what the yields will be, but so far the crop looks good, he said, with good-sized tubers.

Some of the organization's 650 growers say they were running a week or so behind because they were unable to plant on time due to rain in late April, he said. But he expects them to catch up with the arrival of warmer weather.

Growers now are shipping new-crop, fresh-market norkotahs and should finish up the 2008 crop of russets out of storage by this weekend. They also ship red and yellow potatoes.

Prices have been "fair" this year, Hansen said. "They're not as good as last year's, but farmers are making money.

Garnand Marketing LLC in Twin Falls started harvesting its new norkotah crop on schedule last week, will increase volume this week and have all sheds running by Aug. 24, said Gary Garnand, managing partner.

Garnand expects the norkotahs to have better size than the burbanks the company just finished shipping, but it's too early to tell for sure. New crop burbanks should get under way in mid-September.

Other than some early-season hail, growing conditions have been good, he said.

If weather remains dry, temperatures are moderate and growers are able to "dig like crazy," they might be able to have their crops harvested by mid-October, he said. If they are delayed by weather, the harvest could go longer.

"They'll all want to be done by Halloween, if possible," he said. "If the size profile is good, I'm expecting a really nice Idaho crop."

As the harvest gets under way, the big sizes - 40s through 80s - are experiencing strong demand, said Jeff Harper, general manager at Mart Produce Corp. in Rupert.

The company started digging on schedule last week and will ship norkotahs until February, then switch to burbanks.

Mart Produce will have volume similar to last year's, he said, and so far, quality and size are very good.

He expects foodservice business to be down this year as consumers cut back on eating out.

Volume also should be similar to last year's at Potandon Produce LLC in Idaho Falls, said Dick Thomas, vice president of sales.

He expected harvesting to start in a small way by the end of this week, with most sheds digging new crop norkotahs by the week of Aug. 17. Burbanks will start in September.

Quality should be good, and sizing could start out on the small end but should improve as the season progresses.

Potandon also will ship reds, yellows, Klondike gold dust, Klondike rose and a line of miniature potatoes.

Idaho potatoes are up 19,000 acres from last year's 500,000 acres, said Seth Pemsler, vice president, retail/international, for the Eagle-based Idaho Potato Commission.

The commission will help the state's growers move their product by planning national TV advertising and major public relations events and a media tour around harvest time with spokeswoman Denise Austin, the fitness guru, Pemsler said.

The commission also will launch promotional programs with individual retailers and foodservice distributors beginning Oct. 1.

(By Tom Burfield, Western correspondent for The Packer. The Packer and Red Book Credit Services are part of food360º, a division of Vance Publishing Corp., Lincolnshire, Ill.)

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