There is less supply of potatoes from Idaho than last year at this time. "It is a pretty significant difference relative to last year," says Ryan Wahlen of Pleasant Valley Potato. "There were fewer acres planted, and the yields last year were also pretty good. This season's yields were down."
He notes that the Russet Burbank potato size profile and pack out, even with the limited supply, is also particularly down. (Burbanks also have a packout rate that's 10-15 percent lower than Russet Norkotahs.) "Potatoes aren't going to be scarce necessarily, but supply will tighten up," he says.
As for demand, historically, this is a slow time of year for movement, though it did start picking up as of last week. Wahlen says this bodes well going into spring–especially as the Norkotah supply tightens and focus turns increasingly toward Burbanks.
© Pleasant Valley Potato
Pricing on potatoes
All of this is leaving pricing lower than expected. "It's fallen off since the beginning of the year. It's been slowly declining, and right now, it's the low point of the season," he says.
Looking ahead, planting in Idaho will start in the next two weeks for the upcoming potato crop, and planting will start on time. "Western Idaho can start a bit sooner than on the Eastern side," says Wahlen, adding that planting generally is done by the first week of May.
For more information:
Ryan Wahlen
Pleasant Valley Potato
Tel: +1 (208) 397-4194
rwahlen@pleasantvalleypotato.com
http://www.pleasantvalleypotato.com/