U.S. Potato Stocks Decline

WASHINGTON - Jan 15/09 - SNS -- Potato stocks are down 9% from last year at an estimated 213 million cwt (100 pound units) in the 13 major producing states in the United States, according to the USDA.

Potatoes in storage accounted for 58% of the 2008 fall storage States' production, down 1 point from January 1, 2008. Klamath Basin stocks totaled 3.30 million cwt on January 1, 2009, down 3% from a year ago. Klamath Basin stocks include potatoes stored in California and Klamath County, Oregon.

Potato disappearance, at 155 million cwt, was 5% below both January 1, 2008 and 2007. Season-to-date shrink and loss, at 14.8 million cwt, was down 10% from the same date in 2008 and 8% below 2007. Processors in the 9 major States have used 87.3 million cwt of potatoes this season, down 3% from the same period last year and down 4% from 2 years ago. Dehydrating usage accounted for 14.6 million cwt of the total processing, down 13% from last year and 24% below the same period in 2007.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here