August 21, 2009

Sponsored by:

Russet Potato Exchange Inc.

Wisconsin Potatoes

Market Snapshot*

The U.S. Department of Agriculture was reporting the following prices on potatoes from central Wisconsin:

Norkotahs: U.S. No. 1 Grade, 50-pound cartons, sizes 50, 60 and 70, mostly $13; 80s, mostly $11-11.50; 90s, mostly $10; 100s, mostly $9-9.50.

Round reds: U.S. No. 1 Grade, 50-pound sacks, size A, mostly $9.50-10; size B, mostly $10.

Yellow-type: U.S. No. 1 Grade, 50-pound sacks, size A, mostly $15.

* Prices from the USDA's Fruit & Vegetable Market News, Aug. 19.

The Shipping Scene

Farmers are reporting good growing conditions and good quality as the Wisconsin potato harvest gets under way.

Bancroft-based Russet Potato Exchange started harvesting red potatoes on schedule July 20, but yellow potatoes, which started Aug. 5, and russets, which got under way Aug. 12, both were about a week later than normal, said Randy Shell, vice president of marketing.

The company kicked off its season with dark red norlands and also ships red norland potatoes and norkotah and gold rush russets.

"The growing conditions were very cool and dry this year," Shell said. He expected quality to be average to above average.

It's still too early to tell what the sizing will be, however. "The next few weeks are critical on the size profile of the crop," Shell said.

The company can pack any pack sizes of any variety, he added.

"We have a specialty plant that can pack single-wrap, microwaveable potatoes, overwrapped potatoes, foil-wrapped potatoes and any other custom packs that a customer may request," he said.

The company recently joined sales forces with Sun Valley Potatoes Inc., Paul, Idaho, and will work under the Russet Potato Exchange name. The Sun Valley co-op, however, will continue to operate as a grower-owned packing shed under its current name. The partnership is expected to allow Russet Potato Exchange to better serve foodservice customers.

Bushman's Inc. in Rosholt started its potato harvest last week, on schedule, said Mike Carter, chief executive officer.

"The growing season has been very cool, which is good for potatoes," he said.

"Size is looking very, very good at this point," he added, but he emphasized that late potatoes still have a way to go, and that August typically is the time when the late-season tubers bulk up.

He described quality as "very, very good," with red potatoes showing a good red color and russets exhibiting a "good, blocky shape."

The spring was a bit later than growers might have wanted, but the crop caught up nicely in July and early August, he said.

The company will ship red potatoes, russets and a proprietary variety called Sierra Gold that he said stores particularly well. Bushman's also offers an overwrapped, microwaveable potato called Speedy Spuds.

Prices are "stable" at this point Carter said. "We're optimistic that we can continue to hold the price at a profitable level."

Antigo-based Farmers Potato Exchange Inc. started harvesting some seed potatoes and chippers in central Wisconsin around July 23 and started digging table stock the first weekend of August, said president Dave Cofer.

The company will ship red, white and yellow varieties along with russets.

"The quality of the crop looks very good," Cofer said.

Some potatoes just recently became mature enough to ship for fresh market, and indications are that growers will see decent yields and good quality, he said.

"We're pleasantly surprised by the size of the russets," he said. Some growers were concerned that warm weather would prevent them from sizing up.

The harvest will not begin in the Antigo area until after Labor Day, he said, and it should continue until mid-October.

This year's Wisconsin potato volume could be slightly higher than last year's 12.5 million hundredweight, said Duane Maatz, executive director of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Inc. in Antigo. Wisconsin is the nation's third-largest potato producer, the association says.

The association will promote the state's potatoes with its annual sweepstakes drawing for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle for produce buyers and will conduct a recipe contest that will enable consumers to vie for gift cards good for free groceries for submitting recipes for the winter holidays, football parties, St. Patrick's Day, Easter and summer entertaining, said Tim Feit, director of promotions and consumer education.

The Healthy Grown potatoes program, which promotes potatoes that are third-party certified to meet stringent requirements, is expected to expand, he said.

Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association recently announced that it has partnered with Wausau-based Thomas Marks & Associates and Peritus Design to increase awareness of the Wisconsin Potato and Healthy Grown potato brand among consumers and retailers.

(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.)

Resources

Subscriber Service Menu