United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Mar 11/03 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS) UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE 
PERIOD MARCH 9 - 22, 2003.  PRICES ARE FOR MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2003, COMPARED WITH MONDAY, 
MARCH 3, 2003. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED SALES ARE F.O.B. SHIPPING POINT BASIS OR PORT OF ENTRY 
AND EXTRA SERVICES ARE INCLUDED.




ONIONS AND POTATOES
---ONIONS, DRY
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 25-21-14---Movement is expected to remain light as season winds down. 
Trading medium active, others fairly active. Prices 2-2 1/2 inch and up higher, others unchanged. 
Wide range in price according to size. Yellow Globe Type, master container 16 3-lb mesh sacks, 
repacker size 6.50-7.00, 2 1/2 inch and up mostly 11.00-12.00, medium 2 1/4 inch minimum 10.00-
11.00, 2 inch minimum mostly 8.00-9.00. 
   NEW YORK WESTERN AND CENTRAL---Shipments 54-61-57---Movement is expected about the same. 
Trading active. Prices unchanged. Yellow Globe Type U.S. One master container 16 3-lb mesh sacks 
medium 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 10.50-11.00, 2 inch minimum mostly 10.00, Red Globe Type U.S. 
One 25 lb sacks jumbo 12.00-13.00, medium mostly 6.00-6.50.   
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 16-17-10---Movement expected to decrease as season has wind down. 
Most shippers have finished for the season. Trading fairly slow. Prices unchanged. U.S. One 
Yellow Globe type 50 lb sacks medium 7.75-8.00, master container 16 3-lb mesh sacks medium 9.25-
9.75.  
   IDAHO AND MALHUER COUNTY, OREGON---Shipments 381-359-309---Movement expected to decrease as 
few shippers finish for the season.  Trading slow.  Prices Yellow lower, red medium higher, 
others unchanged.  50 lb sacks U.S. One Yellow Spanish Hybrid Super colossal mostly 12.00, 
colossal mostly 11.00, jumbo mostly 10.00, medium 2 one-fourth inch minimum mostly 9.00, Red 
25-lb sacks large 14.00-15.00, medium 9.00-11.00.  Movement has slowed as Mexico shipments have 
increased and some buyers to switch to new crop supplies.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Crossings 29-120-177---Movement expected to increase 
seasonally.  Trading moderate.  Prices yellow medium higher, others lower.  Yellow Grano Type 
50 lb sacks colossal 14.00-16.00, jumbo 12.00, medium mostly 13.00-14.00, 40 lb cartons colossal 
mostly 14.00, jumbo 14.00, White 50 lb sacks jumbo 15.00-16.00, medium mostly 14.00, 25 lb sacks 
Red Globe Type jumbo 14.00-16.00, medium 10.00.  Quality generally good.  
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 232-175-145 (includes export 92-71-63)---Movement 
expected to remain about the same. Trading fairly active. Prices generally unchanged. Yellow 
Hybrid 50 lb sacks colossal 11.00-12.00, jumbo mostly 10.00, Export mostly 11.00, medium 9.00-
10.00, Red 25 lb sacks jumbo 13.00-14.00, medium supplies light 8.00-9.00. 
---POTATOES
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 129-*128-132---Movement expected about the same.  Trading 
moderate.  Prices 2 1/4 inch Round Whites higher, others unchanged.  Round White U.S.One 10-pound 
open window loose paper sacks 2-inch minimum mostly .90-.95, baled 10 5-pound film bags mostly 
5.50-5.75, 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 6.75-7.00, 10-pound open window lower paper sacks mostly 
1.20-1.25, Russet Norkotah U.S.One baled 10 5-pound film bags 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum mostly 
6.00-6.50.  Truck shortages.  February totals 14 percent below last season.  *revised. 
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 30-36-27---Movement expected about the same current week, increase 
following week.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Russet Norkotah U.S.One 10 pound film bags 
loose size A mostly 1.20-1.25, Round White U.S.One 10-pound open window sacks loose size A 1.20-
1.30.  Total-to-date 9 percent below same period last season.  
   NEW BRUNSWICK CANADA (CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 31-32-*---Movement expected 
about the same.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices unchanged.  Russet Norkotah U.S.One baled 
10 5-pound film bags 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum mostly 5.75-6.00, 5-9 ounce 6.50-7.00.  
   ALL COLORADO---Shipments 501-471-550---
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Movement expected about the same. Trading Round Red and Russet 
cartons 40 count and 10 oz min slow, others moderate. Prices carton 40-50s, 80-100s and U.S. Two 
higher, carton 60-70s lower, others generally unchanged. Russet Norkotah U.S. One baled 5-10 lb 
film bags non size A 4.50-5.00, baled 10-5 lb film bags non size A 5.50-6.00, 50 lb cartons 
40s mostly 4.50-5.00, 50s mostly 6.00, 60s 6.50, 70s mostly 6.50, 80s 6.50, 90s 6.00-6.50, 
100s mostly 6.00, U.S. Two 100 lb sacks 6.50-7.50, U.S. Commercial bulk per hundredweight mostly 
6.25-6.50, Round Red U.S. One baled 5-10 lb filmbags size A mostly 6.00, baled 10-5 lb filmbags 
size A mostly 7.00, 50 lb cartons 2 1/2- 3 1/2 inch 9.00-11.00, 50 lb paper sacks size B mostly 
11.00, Yellow Type Yukon Gold U.S. One baled 5 10 lb filmbags size A mostly 8.00, 10-5 lb 
filmbags size A mostly 9.00, 2 1/2-3 1/2 inch mostly 10.00.  Offerings include few Russet 
Keystones and other varieties. 
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 199-202-217---Movement expected to remain about the same. 
Trading fairly slow. Prices unchanged. U.S. One Russet Norkotah (including few Burbanks) baled 
5 10-lb filmbags non size A 5.00-5.50, 50 lb carton 50-60s 7.00-7.50, 70s 7.00-7.50, 80s 6.50-
7.00, 90s 6.00-6.50, 100s mostly 6.00-6.25, Round Reds size A 50 lb paper sacks mostly 5.00-5.50, 
size B mostly 9.00-9.50, Round Whites size A 50 lb paper sacks mostly 5.00.  
   WYOMING DISTRICT, WYOMING---Shipments 6-8-6---Movement expected to decrease as season is 
winding  down. Most shipper are finishing for the season.      
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 698-758-738---Movement expected 
about the same.  Trading baled moderate, others fairly active.  Prices carton 40-90 count higher, 
baled lower, others unchanged.  Russet Burbanks and few Norkotahs, U.S. One baled 5-10 lb mesh 
bags non-size A mostly 5.00, 50-lb cartons 40s 5.00, 50s 5.00-5.50, 60s 6.50, 70s mostly 7.50, 
80s 7.25-7.50, 90s mostly 7.00-7.25, 100s 7.00.
   NEBRASKA---Shipments 79-65-71---
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA/NORHTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 92-91-101---Movement expected to 
increase slightly.  Trading moderate at lower prices.  Prices lower.  Round Red U.S. One 100 lb 
sacks size A mostly 10.50, 50 lb paper sacks size B mostly 9.00.  Truck availability is light.
   IMPERIAL VALLEY DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA---Crop Update---Light shipments out of the area should 
start next week and then increase the following week as the rest of the shippers get started.  
The majority of these potatoes are packed and shipped from the Kern District.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 53-78-128---Movement expected to increase.  Trading moderate. Prices 
Round Red size A higher, size B unchanged, others lower.  Round Red 50 lb sacks size A 12.30, 
size B 12.30, 50 lb cartons 3/4 - 1 5/8 inch 25.30; Round White 50 lb sacks size A 12.30. 
Quality good.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON AND UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---2002 CROP-Shipments All Washington 
Districts 169-154-193 (includes export 20-17-29)---Shipments Umatilla Basin, OR 19-9-13 (includes 
export 4-2-0)---Movement expected about the same. Trading moderate. Prices generally unchanged. 
U.S. One Russet Norkotah 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled filmbags non-size A 5 10-lb 4.00-4.50, 
10 5-lb 5.00-5.50, 50 lb carton 40s 5.00-6.00, 50s 5.50-6.50, 60s 7.00-7.50, 70s 7.50, 80s mostly 
7.50, 90s mostly 6.50-7.00, 100s mostly 6.00. Quality generally good. 
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement expected to decrease slightly. 
Trading moderate. Prices generally unchanged. U.S. One 50 lb cartons Round Red size A 11.00-12.00, 
size B 14.00-15.00, One inch minimum 30.00, Yukon Gold light supplies in very few hands, size A 
mostly 12.00-13.00, size B 9.00-11.00, One inch minimum 30.00. Quality generally good. Some sheds 
finished on Yukon Golds.
   KLAMATH BASIN (SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA)---Shipments 69-64-65---Movement 
expected about the same. Trading moderate.  Prices generally unchanged. Mostly Russet Norkotahs 
2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled filmbags non-size A 5 10-lb mostly 5.00, 10 5-lb mostly 6.00, 
50 lb carton 40s 6.00-7.00, 50s mostly 6.00-7.00, 60-80s mostly 8.00, 90s 7.00, 100s 6.00-7.00, 
10 ounce minimum 7.00.  Quality generally good.
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   MAINE---Shipments 44-*37-38---Movement expected about the same.  Most movement on pre-season 
contract.  Too few open market sales to establish a market.     
   MICHIGAN---Shipments *201-*207-201---Movement expected about the same.  Most movement on 
pre-season contracts.  Too few open market sales to establish a amerket. *revised.  
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 29-40-38---Movement expected to decrease.  Most 
movement on pre-season contracts.  Too few open market sales to establish a market.  
  CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 174-149-54---Movement expected to decrease as season begins to 
wind down. Weather conditions have efected some shipments  Shipments expected to increase as 
weather conditions improve . Most movement on pre-season contract. Too few open market sales 
establish a market.      
   WYOMING DISTRICT, WYOMING---Shipments 1-1-1---Movement expected decrease as season winds down.    
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was slow.  Open-market prices paid to 
growers for Russet Burbank potatoes, storage-run, bulk per hundredweight, less dirt, rot and 
green tare F.O.B. growers storage unless otherwise stated:  French-Fry Quality:  5.50 1 5/8 inch
minimum U.S. No. 2 Process Grade.  Open-market prices paid to shippers by processors, Russet 
Burbank, bulk per hundredweight for washed Processing (Dehydration) Quality 2.50, few higher.
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments to Chippers 87*-74*-24**---*updated, 
**incomplete.
   NEBRASKA---Shipments to Chippers 31-26-*---*unavailable.
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   MAINE---Shipments 52-42-*---Movement expected to increase slightly.  Trading slow for fairly 
light supplies.  Most movement from earlier booked sales.  Current shipments mostly to North 
Carolina, Virginia and New York with major varieties mostly Atlantic and other chipping varieties, 
and Round white Superior and Kennebec varieties for the table market.  Truck shortages and delays 
reported.  Weekly price range Maine G1 (year five in the field) or better Certified Seed U.S. One 
size A bulk per hundredweight and prompt delivery unless otherwise specified.  Atlantics 
(supplies light) 9.00-9.50, Superior (supplies fairly light) 9.00, Katahdin (supplies very light) 
10.00-10.50, 50 pound bag 11.25-11.50, Russet Norkotah or Burbank 50 pound bag 12.00.  
*unavailable.                                     
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 53-138-70---Movement expected to increase as weather conditions 
improve. Unfavorable weather has effected movement.        
   IDAHO---Certified Seed Shipments 2-880-91---
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Certified Seed Shipments 24-34-39---
   NEBRASKA---Certified Seed Shipments 13*-7-7---*updated.

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STAT News Service

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