USA (Idaho): "Ideal potato season, excellent yields and low prices"
Idaho’s potato crop is good. "The size is ideal, and honestly, we couldn’t ask for better potatoes," says Ryan Wahlen of Pleasant Valley Potato, adding that this is due to the near-perfect growing conditions year-round.
Planting began on schedule this year in early April and was mostly completed by early May. Harvesting started around the third week of August and finished in the second week of October.
As for potato demand, it’s normal. "I don’t think it’s any different from this time last year. Last year, there wasn’t much difference between the stored crop and the new one, so there was some overlap," says Wahlen. "There’s always some overlap, but perhaps not as pronounced as what we saw this summer. That’s part of the problem."
Will prices improve in 2026?
That leaves prices relatively low. "When there isn’t much difference between the previous and new harvests, it’s difficult to generate a price boost with the new season," he says. "Typically, the market doesn’t change much from the end of the harvest until the holiday season or even early January. So, it’s been a very tough season for growers in terms of their profits. Our growers continue to see large increases in their costs, but a decrease in the price of their produce." That said, prices may rise in January, although a real increase is unlikely until spring.
He adds that there are significant promotional opportunities for retailers. “I don’t think they’ll ever have a more attractive crop for promotion than this one,” Wahlen says. “Supply is good and crop quality is good or better than in previous years, so it’s an opportunity for them to gain market share.”
Fuente: freshplaza.com
