Potato Market Update
It appears that the russet potato demand has finally slowed down in all shipping areas. Supplies haven’t changed, the Northwest is very short on supplies overall, and every other area seems comfortable with remaining supplies. Pricing continues to inch forward on smaller consumer packs and specific sizes of cartons. RPE will continue to watch what the higher retailer costs will do to the potato demand.
Growers in Florida are now shipping a new crop of red potatoes. Growers in Minnesota and Wisconsin have limited red potato supply through the rest of the month. Contact your RPE sales representative for all your red potato needs.
Supplies of storage crop yellow potatoes remain available from growers in North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Idaho, and Canada. Pricing remains steady. New crop yellow potatoes are becoming available from growers in Florida but at a higher cost. Expect pricing to remain higher due to its proximity to the population.
Storage crop white potato supplies remain available in the Northeast. New crop white potatoes are becoming available in Florida. Between the two sources, supplies stay close to the shipping point. Pricing is steady.
Storage crop fingerling potato supplies remain available in several shipping areas. New crop fingerling potatoes will soon be available from Florida growers.
Onion Market Update
Demand remains strong in all sizes and colors. The red onion market stays hot, with tight supplies and high market pricing.
Growers in the Columbia Basin, Oregon/ Washington and Idaho are getting close to the end of the season and slowing down. New crop is now available out of Mexico, and Texas growers will ramp up in the coming weeks.
California growers expect a good season and are on track to start shipping in late April out of the Imperial Valley.
