United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - May 6/03 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

26 AND MAY 3, 2003, IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS)
UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD MAY 4 - 17, 2003. PRICES ARE 
FOR MONDAY, MAY 5, 2003, COMPARED WITH MONDAY, APRIL 28, 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
   LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS---Shipments 310-284-290---Movement expected to 
decrease seasonally.  Trading moderate.  Prices lower.  Yellow Grano Type 50 lb 
sacks colossal 18.00-20.00, jumbo 14.00-16.00, medium 10.00-12.00, repacker size 
10.00; White jumbo mostly 18.00, medium 10.00, 25 lb sacks Red Globe Type jumbo 
8.00, medium 5.00, 40 lb carton Yellow Grano type 16.00-18.00.  Quality variable. 
   SAN ANTONIO-WINTER GARDEN-LAREDO AREA, TEXAS---Shipments 0-0-6---Movement to 
increase.  Harvest in Winter Garden should gain momentum the second or third 
week of May.  Unofficial opening prices Monday, May 5th, 50 lb sacks Yellow 
jumbo 16.00-18.00, medium 12.00-14.00.  FIRST REPORT.
   IMPERIAL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 110-181-241---Movement expected to 
remain about the same.  Trading moderate. Prices lower.  50 lb sacks Yellow 
Globe type jumbo mostly 16.00, medium 12.00-14.00, White jumbo 14.00-16.00, 
medium 10.00-12.00, Red Globe type 25-lb sacks large 7.00-8.00, medium 5.00-
6.00.  April shipments at 1,067 400-hundredweight units were far ahead of the 
last two seasons.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Crossings 152-113-52---Movement 
expected to decrease seasonally.  Trading moderate.  Light shipments expected 
to continue through week.  LAST REPORT. 
   VIDALIA DISTRICT, GEORGIA---Shipments 32-75-148---Movement expected to 
increase with more shippers starting for the season.  Trading fairly slow. 
Prices lower. Yellow Granex type U.S. No. 1 40-lb cartons jumbo mostly 18.00.
---POTATOES
  UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 739-708-614---
Movement expected to increase slightly. Trading fairly slow. Prices slightly 
lower.  Russet Burbank and few Norkotah, U.S. One baled 5-10 lb mesh bags non-size 
A mostly 4.00, 50-lb cartons 40s mostly 4.50-4.75, 50s 4.50-5.50, 60s mostly 
6.00-6.25, 70s mostly 7.00-7.50, 80s mostly 7.00, 90s mostly 6.50-6.75, 100s 
mostly 6.50-6.75.  April shipments were 3.14 million hundredweight, about in 
line with the last two year's.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 236-217-224---Movement expected remain about 
the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices baled slightly lower others generally 
unchanged. U.S. One Russet Norkotah (including few Burbanks) baled 5 10-lb 
filmbags non size A mostly 4.00, 50 lb carton 50-60s mostly 7.00-7.25, 
70s mostly 7.00-7.25, 80s mostly 6.00-6.50, 90s mostly 6.00, 100s 5.75-6.00. 
Sixty per cent of new crop has been planted. 
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON AND UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---
   ALL WASHINGTON DISTRICTS---Shipments 191-184-176 (includes export 27-24-26)
Umatilla Basin, OR 14-21-27 (includes export 0-0-0)---Movement expected about 
the same. Trading slow. Prices generally unchanged. U.S. One Russet Norkotah 
2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled filmbags non-size A 5 10-lb mostly 3.50, 
10 5-lb mostly 4.50, 50 lb carton 40s mostly 5.00, 50s 5.00-6.00, 60s 6.00-7.00, 
70s 7.00-7.50, 80s 6.50-7.00, 90s mostly 6.00, 100s mostly 5.00. Quality generally 
good.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 235-176-101---Movement expected to decrease as
harvest draws to an end.  Trading moderate.  Prices Reds and White size B lower,
others unchanged.  Round Red 50 lb sacks size A 12.30, size B 10.30-12.30, 50
lb cartons 3/4 - 1 5/8 inch 22.30; Round White 50 lb sacks size A 12.30-14.30,
size B 8.30-10.30. Quality good.  LAST REPORT.
   CENTRAL and NORTH FLORIDA---Movement expected to increase as more shippers
begin volume shipements current week.  Expect to issue first F.O.B. by end of
current week.  FIRST REPORT.
   ALL COLORADO---Shipments---499-503-438---
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Movement is expected about the same. Trading 
cartons active, others fairly slow. Prices generally unchanged. U.S. One baled 
5 10 lb filmbags non size A mostly 4.00-4.25, baled 10 5 lb filmbags non size A 
mostly 5.00-5.25, 50 lb cartons 40s mostly 4.00-4.50, 50s mostly 6.00, 60s mostly 
6.50, 70s 6.50-7.00, 80s 6.50, 90s  6.00, 100s 6.00, U.S Two 100 lb sacks mostly 
4.50-5.00, U.S. Commercial bulk per hundredweight 5.00-5.25, Round Red U.S. One 
baled 5 10 lb filmbags size A 4.00-4.50, baled 10 5 lb filmbags size A 5.00-5.50, 
50 lb cartons 2 1/2- 3 1/2 inch 9.00, 50 lb paper sacks size B mostly 9.00, Yellow 
Type Yukon Gold U.S. One baled 10 5 lb filmbags size A mostly 8.00, 50 lb cartons 
2 1/2-3 1/2 inch 9.00-10.00.
   CENTRAL ARIZONA---Shipments 0-93-87----Movement expected to increase.  Trading 
fairly slow.  Prices lower.  Round Red U.S. One 50 lb cartons size A and B 10.00.  
Some maturity problems delayed harvest last week.  Supplies of yellow type will not 
be in full swing until next week.
   NEBRASKA---Shipments 78-78-63---
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments *110-93-59---Movement expected to continue 
seasonal decline.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Round White U.S. One 10-pound 
open window loose paper sacks 2-inch minimum mostly .95-1.00, baled 10 5-pound 
film bags 5.50-6.00, 2 1/4 inch minimum 6.50-7.50, 10-pound open window lower paper 
sacks 1.15-1.30, Russet Norkotah U.S.One baled 10 5-pound film bags 2 inch or 4 ounce 
minimum mostly 5.50-5.75.  *revised for first and second weeks.
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 89-69-66---Movement 
expected to remain about the same.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices size B lower, 
others unchanged.  Round Red U.S. One 100 lb sacks size A mostly 8.50-9.00, 
50 lb paper sacks size B mostly 6.50-7.00.  Wide range in appearance.
   KLAMATH BASIN (SOUTHERN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA)---Shipments 
81-67-61---Movement expected about the same. Trading slow. Prices generally 
unchanged. Mostly Russet Norkotahs 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled filmbags 
non-size A 5 10-lb mostly 4.00, 10 5-lb mostly 5.00, 50 lb carton 40s mostly 
5.00-6.00, 50s mostly 5.50-6.00, 60-70s 7.00-8.00, 80s mostly 7.00, 90s mostly 
6.00, 100s mostly 5.50, 10 ounce minimum 6.00-7.00. Quality generally good.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 43-30-29---Movement expected to decrease slightly as 
more growers finish for the season.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Russet 
Norkotah U.S. One 10 pound film bags loose size A 1.15-1.20, Round White U.S.
One 10-pound open window sacks loose size A 1.10-1.25.   
   NEW BRUNSWICK CANADA (CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 32-30-*
---Movement expected about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  
Russet Norkotah U.S.One baled 10 5-pound film bags 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum 
mostly 5.00-5.50, 5-9 ounce 5.75-6.50.  *unavailable.
   KERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 0-12-72---Movement expected to 
increase, but remain fairly light this week.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices 
Long White U.S. One 50 lb cartons size A 14.00, size B 10.00. Unofficial prices 
for May 5th, light supplies, 50 lb carton size A Round Red 10.00, Yellow Type 
16.00.  Deal off to a slow start as cool weather has delayed maturity. 
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was active by a 
single buyer. 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:  4.00 U.S. Two 
Process Grade 1 5/8 inch minimum.  Open-market prices paid to shippers by 
processors, Russet Burbank, bulk, per hundredweight for washed Processing 
(Dehydration) Quality 2.00.  Much needed moisture (rain and snow) fell during 
the week, slightly delaying potato planting and plant emergence across the state.  
Grower's higher morale from the moisture was dampened by the news that a large 
processor will shift production from the Northwest to a new plant in Manitoba 
and confront declining French fry demand by closing one plant or cut back 
production at several plants according to company spokesman.  Two plants in 
Western Idaho likely would be the hardest hit.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 140-159-113---Movement expected to decrease 
as most shippers are finishing for the season. Most movement on pre-season 
contract. Too few open market sales to establish a market. 
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 122-*117-110---Movement expected to decrease seasonally.  
Remaining supplies held for contracts.  Too few open market sales to establish
a market.  Shipments will continue for most of May.  *revised.  LAST REPORT.   
   MAINE---Shipments 71-*99-76---Movement expected about the same.  Most 
movement on pre-season contract.  Too few open market sales to establish a 
market.  *revised.     
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments to Chippers 50-43*-11**
*updated, **incomplete. 
   NEBRASKA---Shipments to Chippers 29-29**-unavailable---
**updated.  LAST REPORT.
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   IDAHO---Certified Seed Shipments 980-634-831---Total-to-date at 5.8 million 
hundredweight is nearly equal same date last season.
   MONTANA---Certified Seed Shipments 405-268-219---
   MAINE---Shipments 115-127-*---Movement expected to decrease. Trading slow.  
Movement from earlier booked sales.  Current shipments mostly to New York, Maine, 
Delaware and Pennsylvania with major varieties mostly Snowden and other chipping 
varieties and Round white Reba, Superior and Norwis for the table market.  Too few 
sales to establish a market.  Shipments expected to continue through May.  
*unavailable.  LAST REPORT.   
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Certified Seed Shipments 87-369-175---
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 68-128-103---Movement expected to remain about 
the same.          
   NEBRASKA---Certified Seed Shipments *-*-*-(*unavailable).  LAST REPORT.
   

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STAT News Service

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