United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Mar 25/03 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

22 2003, IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS) UNITS.  EXPECTED 
MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD MARCH 23 - APRIL 5, 2003.  PRICES ARE FOR MONDAY, 
MARCH 24, 2003, COMPARED WITH MONDAY, MARCH 17, 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 309-227-193---Movement expected to
decrease.  Trading active.  Prices higher.  50 lb sacks U.S. One Yellow Spanish 
Hybrid Super colossal mostly 12.00, colossal 10.00-11.00, jumbo 8.00-9.00, 
medium 2 one-fourth inch minimum 8.00-9.00, Red onion supplies insufficient to 
establish a market.  Nine shippers packing current week.  LAST REPORT for red onions.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Crossings 177-211-242---Movement 
expected about the same.  Trading fairly active.  Prices yellow higher, others 
generally unchanged.  Yellow Grano Type 50 lb sacks colossal mostly 14.00-15.00, 
jumbo mostly 12.00, medium mostly 12.00.  40 lb cartons colossal 14.00-16.00, 
jumbo 13.00-14.00.  White 50 lb sacks jumbo mostly 10.00, medium mostly 10.00.  
25 lb sacks Red Globe Type jumbo 12.00-14.00, medium 10.00.  Quality generally 
good. 
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 145-138-135(includes export 63-64-44)---
Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading moderate. Prices generally 
unchanged. Yellow Hybrid 50 lb sacks Colossal very few 11.00-12.00, Jumbo 7.00-8.00, 
Export 8.50-10.00, Medium 7.25-9.00. Red 25 lb sacks, remaining supplies of Red
onions are in very few hands. Supplies insufficient to establish a market. LAST 
REPORT FOR REDS. 
   NEW YORK WESTERN AND CENTRAL---Shipments 57-45-42---Movement expected to remain 
about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices 2 inch minimum lower, others 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 9.00-10.00, Red Globe Type U.S. One 25 
lb sacks jumbo 12.00-13.00, medium 6.00-6.50.
   LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS---Shipments 0-1-6---Movement expected to 
increase seasonally.  Trading active.  Most supplies are currently packed in 
40 lb cartons.  First F.O.B. report expected to be issued within two weeks.  
Quality generally good.  FIRST REPORT.     
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 738-720-667---Movement
expected about the same.  Trading cartons fairly active, others fairly slow.  
Prices about unchanged except lower for baled.  Russet Burbanks & few Norkotahs, 
U.S. One baled 5-10 lb mesh bags non-size A mostly 4.50, 50-lb cartons 40s mostly 
5.00, 50s 5.00-5.50, 60s 6.50, 70s 7.50-8.00, 80s 7.25-7.50, 90s 7.00-7.25, 100s 
mostly 7.00.
   ALL COLORADO---Shipments---550-538-488---
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Movement expected about the same. Trading Round Red 
Russet Two's slow, cartons 70-100s fairly good, others moderate. Prices 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, 
50s mostly 5.50, 60s 6.00-6.50, 70s mostly 6.50, 80s mostly 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, 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 9.00-10.00, 
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 217-215-198---Movement expected to remain about the 
same. Trading fairly slow. Prices bales slightly lower, others generally unchanged. 
U.S. One Russet Norkotah (including few Burbanks) baled 5 10-lb filmbags non size 
A 4.75-5.00. 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 4.75-6.00, 
size B 7.00-8.50. Round Whites size A 50 lb paper sacks supplies insufficient to 
quote.  LAST REPORT FOR ROUND WHITES.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---2002 CROP-Shipments All 
Washington Districts 193-169-145(includes export 29-21-23)---Shipments Umatilla 
Basin, OR 13-24-16(includes export 0-0-1)---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 3.50-4.00, 10 5-lb 4.50-5.00, 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 13.00-14.00, One inch minimum 
28.00-30.00. Quality generally good.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 128-117-144---Movement expected to increase. 
Trading moderate.  Prices Round Red B's lower, others unchanged.  Round Red 50
lb sacks size A 8.30, size B 10.30, 50 lb cartons 3/4 - 1 5/8 inch 22.30;
Round White 50 lb sacks size A 12.30, size B 10.30.  Quality good.
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 101-109-80---Movement 
expected about the same.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices slightly lower.  Round Red 
U.S. One 100 lb sacks size A mostly 10.00, 50 lb paper sacks size B 8.50-9.50.  
Some shippers indicate sales of New Crop Reds out of Florida is hindering movement. 
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 148-112*-70---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.  *revised 
   KLAMATH BASIN (SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA)---Shipments 65-64-57---
Movement expected about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices bales lower, others 
generally unchanged. Mostly Russet Norkotahs 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled filmbags 
non-size A 5 10-lb mostly 4.50-5.00, 10 5-lb mostly 5.50-6.00, 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 71-65-81---
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 27-29-38---Movement expected to decrease.  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.  
   NEW BRUNSWICK CANADA (CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 27-23-*---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. 
   IMPERIAL VALLEY DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 10-15-40---Movement expected to 
increase as more shippers 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.
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was active.  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 (storage-run) one small lot 3.50 delivered; French-Fry Quality:  
1 5/8” minimum U.S. No. 2 Process Grade one large lot 5.50 to out-of-state processor
(possible grower participation in future market increases) some 5.00.  
2003 Crop Update:  Pre-season contract prices with two major fryers has been 
negotiated at a 10 cent increase for Russet Burbanks and a 5 cent increase for 
Russet Rangers and Shepody in base prices compared to a year ago but no volume 
commitments yet.  There were also changes in the early-dig clauses for Shepody 
and Rangers.  Open-market prices paid to shippers by processors, Russet Burbank, 
bulk, per cwt for washed Processing (Dehydration) Quality 2.50.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 54-28-309---Movement expected to decrease. Most 
movement on pre-season contract. Too few open market sales establish a market.   
   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.  
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments to Chippers 97-95*-24**---
(*updated, **incomplete)
   NEBRASKA---Shipments to Chippers 50-50-*---(*unavailable)
   MAINE---Shipments 43-43*-42---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 38-33-33---Movement expected to seasonally 
decrease as many growers finish for the season.  Most movement on pre-season contracts.  
Too few open market sales to establish a market.
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   IDAHO---Certified Seed Shipments 91-225-375---
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 53-176-264---Movement expected to remain about 
the same.
   MAINE---Shipments 24-60-92---Movement expected about the same. Trading slow for fairly 
light supplies.  Most movement from earlier booked sales.   Current shipments mostly to 
North Carolina, New York, Virginia and Delaware with major varieties mostly Atlantic and 
other chipping varieties and Round white Superior, Reba, Kennebec and Norwis varieties 
for the table market.  Truck shortages have slowed deliveries.  Poor weather conditions 
in planting regions have forced some growers to cancel some seed orders; however, 
truck shortages in other seed growing regions and Canada have prompted inquiry on seed 
availability. Supplies fairly light on most varieties.  Too few sales to establish 
a market.
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Certified Seed Shipments 39-21-61---
   NEBRASKA---Certified Seed Shipments 7-*-*---(*unavailable)          

---

STAT News Service

The subscriber version of the article is available by Clicking here