Mexico (Northern Sinaloa): The potato season concludes with lower yields due to high temperatures and the presence of pests.

The potato harvest in northern Sinaloa concluded with low yields and marketing difficulties, primarily due to high temperatures and the incidence of pests and diseases throughout the growing season. This was reported by Jorge Benjamín López Rosas, president of the Los Mochis Potato Producers Association.

López Rosas explained that unfavorable weather conditions significantly impacted crop development, resulting in an average production of only 23 tons per hectare, a result that fell short of farmers’ initial expectations for this season.

Impact of pests and diseases:

According to the report, the extreme temperatures recorded during much of the growing season contributed to the emergence of phytosanitary problems that directly impacted the quality and quantity of the harvest. Among the main problems reported were fungi, fusarium wilt, moths, and other insects, which affected the plants, especially during the final stages of development and harvest, causing significant losses in the sector.

Shortage of the most commercially valuable tuber:

One of the biggest challenges, López Rosas explained, was the low availability of large potatoes, which are the most valued in the market and represent the main source of income for producers. This situation considerably limited the profits earned during the growing season. Although some producers managed to meet their contractual obligations with the industry, the limited supply made it difficult to fully comply with the established agreements.

López Rosas acknowledged that while northern Sinaloa did not achieve high prices, as happened in Sonora especially with large, top-quality potatoes, the region suffered a significant decrease in this type of product.