Red and yellow potato supply is tightening up. "I'll be finished probably next week and that's out of northern Minnesota," says Kevin R. Olson of Ben Holmes Potato Co., adding that generally product from the state tightens up in supply between February and March.
Part of the reason why there's less volume available is because the red and yellow potato supply out of Florida is also less this season. "There's a farmer in Florida with about 1,000-acre farm that didn't raise any spuds this year so there are fewer spuds available overall," says Olson.
Florida new crop starting
Add to that the fact that production coming out of northern Florida was hit with frost a few weeks ago. That said, there is some Florida new crop that has been harvesting for a few weeks though overall, product out of the state is expected to stay tight until March.
As for demand, it's been steady for Minnesota potatoes. "There's been really good quality this year," says Olson.
In all, he says in the last two to three weeks, it's pushed up pricing–which has been similar to slightly higher than this time last year–on colored potatoes in the last month on virtually all grades, except for number twos."There's a lot of byproduct in the valley as they get into the rougher bins. They have higher grade out so there's more byproduct," he says, adding that pricing often strengthens near the end of the season.
For more information:
Kevin R. Olson
Ben Holmes Potato Co.
Tel: +1 (763) 261-0990
kevin.benholmespotato@gmail.com
http://www.benholmespotato.com/