EEUU: Plentiful potato supplies make for weak market

The good news for potato growers is they have a bumper crop of potatoes. The bad news is this surplus of product has lowered early prices.

Ralph Schwartz, vice president of marketing, sales and innovation at Idaho Falls, Idaho-based Potandon Produce LLC, said potatoes have flooded the early market and led to low pricing.

“Forecasting pricing for the potato market is hard,” he said. “For example, a virus in a storage unit can affect the market. But these potatoes are good quality, so I encourage retailers to advertise to drive volume.”

Eric Patrick, marketing director for Grant J. Hunt Co., Kirkland, Wash., agreed with Schwartz’s market assessment, saying because there is more crop throughout all regions of the U.S., it’s a buyer’s market with aggressive pricing.

“Russet potatoes also are in a buyers’ market with good quality out of Washington and Idaho,” he said. “The poly bag market is tight with less volume than in bulk.” Patrick said his company offers russets in 5- and 10-pound bags.

Patrick said sales will increase as more people buy potatoes for the Thanksgiving holiday and to make winter soups and dishes.

Frank Muir, president and CEO for the Idaho Potato Commission, Eagle, said pricing trends are on par with last season. “There is pressure to sell more potatoes early in the season, so pricing has been low, but this will strengthen,” he said.