United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Mar 18/03 - 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 16 - 29, 2003.  PRICES ARE FOR MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2003, COMPARED WITH
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 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
   IDAHO AND MALHUER COUNTY, OREGON---Shipments 359-309-227---Movement expected
to decrease.  Trading slow.  Prices Yellow lower, red medium higher.  50 lb sacks 
U.S. One Yellow Spanish Hybrid Super colossal 11.00-12.00, colossal 10.00, 
jumbo 8.00-9.00, medium 2 one-fourth inch minimum mostly 9.00, Red 25 lb sacks 
large 14.00-15.00, medium 10.00-11.00.  Supplies of reds is very light.  About a 
dozen shippers are still packing at the start of the current week.  Weekend rains 
in the new crop Mexico production area spurred some demand Monday.  Trucks in 
short supply.  2003 Crop Update:  Planting was underway last week.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Crossings 120-177-211---Movement 
expected about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices red generally unchanged, 
others lower.  Yellow Grano Type 50 lb sacks colossal 12.00-14.00, jumbo mostly 
12.00, medium 12.00.  40 lb cartons colossal mostly 13.00-15.00, jumbo mostly 
13.00-14.00.  White 50 lb sacks jumbo 10.00-12.00, medium 8.00-10.00.  25 lb 
sacks Red Globe Type jumbo 14.00, medium mostly 10.00.  Quality mostly good.
Weekend rains curtailed harvest and a decline in shipments were noted on Monday.  
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 175-145-138 (includes export 71-63-64)---
Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading moderate. Prices generally 
unchanged. Yellow Hybrid 50 lb sacks Colossal 11.00-12.00, Jumbo mostly 9.00-10.00, 
Export mostly 11.00, Medium mostly 9.00. Red 25 lb sacks Jumbo mostly 14.00, 
Medium (supplies light) 7.50-9.00. 
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 21-14-11---Movement expected to decrease as nearly all 
shippers are finished for the season. Supplies are insufficient to establish a 
market.  Expect very light shipments through the end of the month. LAST REPORT.
   NEW YORK WESTERN AND CENTRAL---Shipments 61-57-45---Movement expected about the 
same. Trading fairly slow. 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 6.00-6.50.   
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 17-10-9---Light movement expected to continue 
for next two to three weeks. LAST REPORT.  
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 758-738-720---
Movement expected about the same.  Trading cartons fairly active, others fairly 
slow.  Prices higher for carton 40-50s & 70s, lower for baled, others unchanged.
Russet Burbanks & few Norkotahs, U.S. One baled 5-10 lb mesh bags non-size A 
4.50-5.00, 50-lb cartons 40s mostly 5.00, 50s mostly 5.25-5.50, 60s 6.50, 
70s 7.50-8.00, 80s 7.25-7.50, 90s mostly 7.00-7.25, 100s 7.00.  Many industry 
sources are uncertain of the current decline in demand of non-size A packs 
although the popularity of “jumbo sizes” (equivalent to 40-60 count) in 
15 lb film packs may be partly responsible.
   ALL COLORADO---Shipments---471-550-538---
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Movement expected about the same. Trading Round 
Red slow, others moderate.  Prices U.S.Commercial bulk lower, others generally 
unchanged. U.S. One baled 5 10 lb filmbags non size A mostly 4.50-4.75, baled 
10 5 lb filmbags non size A mostly 5.50-5.75, 50 lb cartons 40s mostly 
4.50-5.00, 50s mostly 6.00, 60s mostly 6.50, 70s mostly 6.50, 80s 6.50, 
90s mostly 6.00, 100s mostly 6.00, U.S Two 100 lb sacks mostly 6.50-7.00, 
U.S. Commercial bulk per cwt mostly 5.75-6.00, 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 10.00-11.00, 50 lb paper sacks size B mostly 
10.00, 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.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 202-217-215---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.    
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---2002 CROP Shipments All 
Washington Districts 154-193-169 (includes export 17-29-21)---Shipments Umatilla 
Basin, OR 9-13-24(includes export 2-0-0)---Movement expected about the same. Trading 
bales slow, others fairly slow. Prices bales lower, others generally unchanged. 
U.S. One Russet Norkotah 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled filmbags non-size A 
5 10-lb mostly 3.75-4.00, 10 5-lb mostly 4.75-5.00, 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 fairly slow. Prices lower. U.S. One 50 lb cartons Round Red size A 
mostly 10.00-11.00, size B mostly 14.00, One inch minimum 28.00-30.00. Yukon Gold 
light supplies insufficient to establish a market. LAST REPORT FOR YUKON GOLDS. 
Quality generally good. 
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 91-101-109---Movement 
expected to be about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices generally unchanged.  
Round Red U.S. One 100 lb sacks size A mostly 10.50, 50 lb paper sacks size B 
9.00-10.00.  Some shippers indicate truck availability is limiting movement, 
as are the sales of New Crop Reds out of Florida.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 78-128-117---Movement expected to increase. 
Trading fairly active.  Prices Round Red B's higher, others unchanged. 
Round Red 50 lb sacks size A 12.30, size B 12.30-14.30, 50 lb cartons 3/4 - 1
5/8 inch 25.30; Round White 50 lb sacks size A 12.30.  Quality good.   
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 128-148*-99---Movement expected about the 
same.  Trading slow.  Prices 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.  Slight truck shortage.  According to 
NASS, Maine’s March 1 holdings increased 13 per cent over last season.  *revised 
   KLAMATH BASIN (SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA)---Shipments 64-65-64---
Movement expected about the same. Trading fairly slow. 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.
   NEBRASKA---Shipments 65-71-65---
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 36-27-29---Movement expected to increase current week, 
decrease 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.  According to NASS, Michigan’s 
March 1 holdings increased 34 per cent over last season.  
   NEW BRUNSWICK CANADA (CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 32-27-*---
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. According to Agriculture and 
Agri-Food Canada, New Brunswick’s March 1 holdings are 47 per cent greater than 
last season.  *unavailable
   IMPERIAL VALLEY DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 10-10-15---Movement expected 
to increase as more shippers finish Kern Winter crop and get started.  The 
majority of these potatoes are packed and shipped from the Kern District.  
Light offerings of Long Whites, Round Reds and Yukon Golds.
   WYOMING DISTRICT, WYOMING---Shipments 8-6-6---Light movement expected to continue 
next two weeks. LAST REPORT.       
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was moderate.  
Open-market prices paid to growers for Russet Burbank potatoes, storage-run, 
bulk, per cwt, less dirt, rot and green tare F.O.B. growers storage unless 
otherwise stated:  Direct-to-dehydration (seed tops-unwashed, mostly 8 oz minimum)
3.00 delivered; French-Fry Quality:  one large lot fair condition 5.00 
1 5/8” minimum U.S. No. 2 Process Grade.  Open-market prices paid to shippers 
by processors, Russet Burbank, bulk, per cwt for washed Processing (Dehydration) 
Quality 2.50.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 207-239*-233---Movement expected about the same.  Most 
movement on pre-season contracts.  Too few open market sales to establish a market.
*revised 
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 149-54-28---Movement expected to increase as weather 
conditions improve.  Most movement on pre-season contract. Too few open market sales 
establish a market. 
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments to Chippers 74-97*-25**---
(*updated, **incomplete)
   MAINE---Shipments 37-43*-38---Movement expected about the same.  Most movement 
on pre-season contract.  Too few open market sales to establish a market.  *revised     
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 40-38-33---Movement expected about the 
same.  Most movement on pre-season contracts.  Too few open market sales to establish 
a market.  According to NASS, New York’s March 1 holdings decreased 8 per cent from last 
season.
   NEBRASKA---Shipments to Chippers 26-50-*---(*unavailable)
   WYOMING DISTRICT, WYOMING---Shipments 1-1-1---Light Movement expected to continue 
next two to three weeks. LAST REPORT.     
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   IDAHO---Certified Seed Shipments 880-91-225---
   MAINE---Shipments 42-24-*---Movement expected to increase slightly.  Trading 
slow for fairly light supplies.  Most movement from earlier booked sales.   
Current shipments mostly to North Carolina and Virginia with major varieties 
mostly Atlantic and other chipping varieties, and Round white Kennebec and 
Superior varieties for the table market.  Truck shortages and poor planting 
weather in the Southeast have delayed movement.  Weekly price range 
Maine G1 (year five in the field) or better Certified Seed USOne size A bulk 
per cwt and prompt delivery unless otherwise specified.  Superior 
(supplies fairly light) 8.50-9.00, Katahdin (supplies very light) 50 pound 
bag 11.25-11.50.  Shipments-to-date down 21 per cent from last season.  
*unavailable 
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 11-53-176---Movement expected to increase as 
weather conditions improve.
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Certified Seed Shipments 34-39-21---                 
   NEBRASKA---Certified Seed Shipments 7-7-*---(*unavailable)

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STAT News Service

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