This fall is looking different for Idaho potatoes. Ryan Wahlen of Pleasant Valley Potato says it finished its storage crop yesterday and some Idaho shippers have begun moving new crop already. “Last year we were coming off a tight season and the crop was delayed so there was a real shortage of available product. This year supplies are pretty normal so I don’t think we’ll experience the same kind of gap as last year,” says Wahlen.
He says production will begin August 17th (last year, it started on August 22) as it comes off of a growing season that looked pretty close to ideal. “We went into the ground about two weeks late because it was a long winter and a wet spring and we were concerned that would delay things,” Wahlen says. “However we couldn’t ask for better weather in May/June and by the 4th of July, the crop had caught up.” Harvest generally wraps up before October 8th.
High costs and pricing
Meanwhile, demand has been good, even with the fact that potatoes have seen historically high prices all season. It’s expected that with more available supply, pricing will likely be lower and demand could possibly pick up. “Pricing was strong finishing up storage crop. I think with the historically high costs that we’re experiencing, pricing will be elevated relative to where we were a few years ago. Yet in the context of where we’re at right now, pricing will be more in line with what people are used to seeing in the fresh potato market.”
In all, Wahlen hopes for a more normal season this year. “Things have been pretty abnormal for the past few years so it’d be nice to get demand and supply back to what we consider normal,” he adds.
For more information:
Ryan Wahlen
Pleasant Valley Potato
Tel: +1 (208) 397-4194
[email protected]
http://www.pleasantvalleypotato.com/