News on Potato Stats, Trade, Prices from the United States

Idaho potato farmers who sell to McCain Foods have agreed to a contract that maintains roughly the same pricing as last season, said Dan Hargraves, who negotiated on their behalf as executive director of Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative.

The Potato Marketing Association of North America held a special spring meeting this past week in Las Vegas, NV to discuss progress on the 2014 pre-season potato contract negotiations.

A new University of Idaho economic report shows potato procution costs have held steady.

Total US potato and product exports for FY13 (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013) increased 4 percent in value to $1,639,911,793 and also rose 4 percent in volume to 1,561,896 metric tons (MT)--both record levels.

North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) is projecting a 22.6% production drop in the North Dakota Potato crop this fall.

US Consumers frustrated with historically high potato prices should look for some relief at the checkout lane soon when the late summer and fall crops start hitting store shelves.

Officials from Oregon and Washington are working on an upcoming joint trade mission to expand export opportunities for Northwest potatoes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced the launch of the State National Harmonization Program (SNHP) for seed potatoes.

In a recently-filed lawsuit, Associated Wholesale Grocers claims that the United Potato Growers of America, United Potato state groups and many potato grower-shippers are illegally setting potato prices.

The National Potato Council is investigating options to restore USDA potato stocks estimates cut due to budget sequestration, including industry funding to cover the work or identifying offsetting cuts to less important potato reports.

Idaho potato growers at a Monday meeting in Burley approved processing contracts with J.R. Simplot and McCain Foods that both include payment increases averaging 1.6 percent.

Idaho potato growers will vote Monday in Burley on contracts with McCain Foods and J.R. Simplot Co. paying a 1.6 percent average increase, according to sources involved in negotiations.

The owner of potato brokerage firm Spud city sales will make an initial appearance in Portage County Circuit Court today on charges of not paying farmers for shipments of potatoes.

United States Potato Processors used less potatoes so far this season, compared to the same period last year. The amount of potatoes in stock at December 1, 2012, was up 11 percent compared with last year.

United States exports of frozen potato products to all markets grew 11% by volume and 16% by value for the first quarter (July-September) of MY2012/13.

A partial repeal of a South Korean ban on potatoes from Idaho and other northwest states could increase Idaho’s exports. But the state is essentially starting its relationship with the country from scratch after bans that have lasted for years.

South Korea has lifted a ban against Pacific Northwest-grown potatoes used for things like potato chips, but a ban on other fresh potatoes still remains because of a fear over a bacterium known as zebra chip, state officials announced Wednesday during ...

An expected surplus of potatoes from Idaho has made the outlook for Washington's fresh spuds dismal. Prices have been depressed even though farmers still are digging up potatoes and are past the height of the harvest season.