United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Jan 6/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

27 2003 AND JANUARY 3, 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT 
(100,000 LBS) UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 2-17,
2004.  PRICES ARE FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, 
DECEMBER 29, 2003.  UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED SALES ARE F.O.B. SHIPPING 
POINT BASIS (INCLUDING DELIVERED SALES F.O.B. SHIPPING POINT BASIS) OR 
PORT OF ENTRY AND EXTRA SERVICES ARE INCLUDED.  PRICES REPRESENT OPEN 
(SPOT) MARKET SALES BY FIRST HANDLERS ON PRODUCT OF GENERALLY GOOD QUALITY 
AND CONDITION UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED AND MAY INCLUDE PROMOTIONAL ALLOWANCES
OR OTHER INCENTIVES.  NO CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO AFTER-SALE ADJUSTMENTS
UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. BROKERAGE FEES PAID BY SHIPPER ARE INCLUDED IN THE 
PRICE REPORTED.






ONI0NS AND POTATOES
---ONIONS, DRY
   IDAHO AND MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON---Shipments 350-239-168---Movement expected 
to increase.  Trading fairly active.  Prices higher.  50 pound sacks U.S. One 
Yellow Spanish Hybrid Super colossal mostly 11.00, colossal mostly 9.50, jumbo 
mostly 8.00-9.00, medium two one-fourth inch minimum mostly 6.00; White large 
mostly 13.00-14.00, medium mostly 13.00-14.00; Red 25 pound sacks large mostly 
9.00, medium mostly 6.00.  December 2003 shipments were 3,326 400 hundredweight 
(cwt) which was 4% above December, 2002 shipments of 3,192 400-cwt.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 236-127-141(includes export 59-38-50)
---Movement expected to increase as packing returns to a full schedule after the
holidays. Trading fairly active.  Prices generally slightly higher. Yellow
Hybrid 50 pound sacks Colossal 8.50-9.00, Jumbo mostly 7.00-7.50, Medium mostly 
5.00-5.50. 25 pound sacks Red Jumbo 7.00-8.00, Medium 4.00-5.00. White 50 pound
sacks Jumbo 10.00-12.00, Medium 10.00-12.00. Remaining supplies of white onions
in few hands. Most exports going to: Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. 
Some sheds were not packing at the start of the week on January 5 due extremely
cold temperatures received the prior day.
   NORTH & EAST POINTS, COLORADO---Shipments 58-43-48---Movement expected to 
increase.  Trading fairly active.  Prices higher.  Yellow 50 pound sacks 
super colossal 13.00-14.00, colossal mostly 11.00, jumbo mostly 10.00-10.50,
medium mostly 8.00, repacker size 7.00.  Red 25 pound sacks too few sales to
establish a market. 
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 72-46-46---Movement expected to 
remain about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices Jumbo Red lower, others 
unchanged. Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 pound sacks medium 7.00-8.00, repacker
size 6.00-6.50, master container 16 3-pound mesh sacks repacker size 6.50-7.00,
medium 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 8.50-9.00, 2 inch minimum mostly 8.00; 25 pound
sacks Red Globe type jumbo 7.00-7.50, medium 4.00-5.00.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 40-27-33---Movement expected to remain about the same.
Trading moderate. Prices 16 3-pound medium higher, others unchanged. Yellow Globe
type U.S. One 50 pound sacks medium 6.50-7.00, repacker size mostly 6.00-6.25,
master container 16 3-pound mesh sacks medium mostly 8.50-9.00, repacker size 
mostly 7.00-7.50.
   WESTERN SLOPE COLORADO---Shipments 27-15-25---Movement expected to increase.  
Trading fairly active.  Prices generally unchanged.  50 pound sacks Yellow 
colossal 10.00-11.00, jumbo mostly 9.00-9.50, medium 6.00-7.00; Red 25 pound
sacks large 8.00-10.00, medium 5.00-6.00.  
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 29-22-23---Movement expected to increase.  
Trading active.  Prices higher.  Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 pound sacks 
medium 5.50-6.50, master container 16 3-pound mesh sacks medium mostly 
7.75-9.50.  Shipments for the month of December were 265 400-hundredweight.
   ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK---Shipments 28-19-22---Movement expected to 
remain about the same. Trading slow. Prices unchanged. Yellow Globe type 
U.S. One 50 pound sacks 2 inch minimum 6.50-7.00, master container 16 3-pound
mesh sacks medium 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 9.00-9.50, 2 inch minimum 8.00-8.50, 
Red Globe type (supplies light) 25 pound sacks jumbo mostly 6.00-6.50, medium 
mostly 5.00.  Wide range in quality.
   PERUVIAN IMPORTS THROUGH VARIOUS EAST COAST PORTS---Shipments 41-24-22---
Movement expected to decrease until more boats arrive in U.S. ports.  Yellow 
Granex type supplies in too few hands to establish a market.  Shipments for the
month of December were 414 400-hundredweight.
   UTAH DISTRICT---Shipments 33-23-21---Movement expected to increase.  
Unofficial prices for Monday, January 5th, 50 pound sacks Yellow jumbo 8.00-9.00, 
medium mostly 6.00-6.50.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 800-390-397---
Movement expected to increase following the fairly light volume during the past
two weeks over the Christmas/New Year's Day holiday period. Trading active for 
cartons, moderate for baled.  Prices 60s lower, 70s slightly higher, others 
generally unchanged compared to pre-holiday prices.  Russet Burbank and some 
Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-pound mesh bags non-size A mostly 3.00, 50 pound
cartons 40-50s mostly 9.50-10.00, 60s mostly 8.50, 70s 9.00-9.50, 80s mostly 
8.50, 90s mostly 5.50, 100s mostly 4.50. (Prices do not include shipper-receiver
contracts that may be below or above the prices shown). Cold temperatures has 
limited hauling from out-lying storages to packing sheds to start off the New 
Year.   December movement was 2.94 million hundredweight (cwt), compared to 
2.84 million cwt last year.  Preliminary U.S. December shipments were 4% below
last year.
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 440-296-330--- Movement expected to 
increase.  Trading moderate.  Prices Russet cartons 40-90s slightly lower, 
others generally unchanged.  U.S. One Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film 
bags non size A 3.00-3.25, 50 pound cartons 40-70s mostly 7.00, 80s mostly 6.00,
90s mostly 5.00, 100s mostly 5.00, U.S. Commercial unwashed bulk per 
hundredweight (cwt) size A 4.00-4.25, U.S. One Round Red baled 5 10-pound film 
bags size A 3.25-4.00, Yellow Type baled 10 5-pound film bags size A 7.00-7.50.
Shipments for the month of December were 1,846,000 hundredweight.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 334-222-265---Movement expected to increase.  
Trading fairly slow.  Prices Russet carton 50-70s slightly higher, others 
generally unchanged.  U.S. One Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film bags 
non-size A mostly 2.75-3.00, size A 3.00-3.75, 5-9 ounce 4.25-5.25, 50 pound
cartons 50-70s mostly 7.00-7.75, 80s mostly 6.00-6.50, 90s mostly 5.00, 
100s mostly 4.00-4.25, Round Red 50 pound sacks size A mostly 3.00-3.50, 
size B 5.50-6.50, Round White 50 pound sacks size A mostly 3.00-3.50.  
Shipments for the month of December were 1,300,000 hundredweight.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All Washington
Districts 215-182-153 (includes export 14-13-13---Shipments Umatilla Basin, 
OR 8-3-3 (includes export 0-0-0)---Movement expected to increase slightly. 
Trading moderate. Prices unchanged. Mostly Russet Norkotah US One 2 inch or 
4 ounce minimum. Baled 5 10-pound filmbags non Size A 2.50-2.75, 10 5-pound
filmbags non Size A 3.50-3.75, 50 pound cartons 40s 7.00-8.00, 50-70s 
8.00-9.00, 80s mostly 7.00, 90s 5.00-5.50, 100s 3.50-4.50. Quality generally
Trading was slow at the close of the week of December 28 due to a snowstorm 
over the New Year’s holiday which slowed trucking and hauling. As the storm 
abated, the temperatures dropped and continued to slow hauling and loading 
at the start of the following week.  
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement expected to 
increase slightly. Trading moderate. Prices Red size B lower, others generally
unchanged. U.S.One 50 pound carton Round Red Size A 11.00, Size B 13.00-15.00,
One inch minimum 30.00. Yukon Gold Size A mostly 13.00, Size B 8.00-10.00, 
One inch minimum 30.00. Quality generally good.
   RED RIVER VALLEY(MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 138-88-125---Movement 
expected to increase.  Trading fairly active.  Prices slightly higher.  U.S. One 
Round Red 100 pound size A sack mostly 6.50, 50 pound sacks size B mostly 
6.50-7.00, baled 5 10-pound film bag size A mostly 4.50.  December 2003 shipments
totaled 528,000 hundredweight (cwt) which is up 15% of December 2002 total of 
461,000 cwt.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 100-89*-85---Movement expected to increase
slightly.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Round White U.S.One 10 pound open
window sacks loose 2 inch minimum mostly .65-.75, baled 10 5-pound filmbags mostly
4.00-4.50, 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 5.00-5.50, Russet Norkotah 2 inch minimum 
mostly 4.75-5.00.  *revised
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments 
66-68-59---Movement expected to increase slightly. Trading moderate. Prices bales
slightly lower, others unchanged. Russet Norkotah baled filmbags non-size A 5-10
pound mostly 3.00-3.25, 10-5 pound mostly 4.00-4.25, 50 pound cartons 40-70s 
mostly 10.00, 80s 7.00-8.00, 90s 6.00-7.00, 100s mostly 5.00. Quality generally 
good. Trading was disrupted during the week of December 28 from a winter storm
which blocked the main highways.
   NEBRASKA---Shipments 84-35-39---Movement expected to decrease as a few 
shippers finish for the season.  Trading moderate.  Unofficial prices for 
Monday, January 5th, too few sales to establish a market.  LAST REPORT.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 45-38-37---Movement expected to increase.  
Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Round White U.S. One size A 10-pound open 
window sacks loose .70-.75, Russet Norkotah and Goldrush 10 pound filmbags loose
mostly .70-.80.
   LONG ISLAND NEW YORK---Shipments 31-38-29 (includes export 4-2-3)---
Movement expected about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Round White
U.S.One size A 50 pound sacks mostly 3.25-3.50, large mostly 4.75-5.00, baled 
10 5-pound filmbags mostly 5.75-6.00, 5 10-pound filmbags 4.75-5.00.        
   NEW BRUNSWICK(CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 25-26-28---   
Movement expected about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged. Russet Norkotah
U.S.One 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled 10 5-pound filmbags mostly 4.25-4.50, 
50-pound cartons 70 size 6.50-7.00, 80 size 6.00-6.50, 90-100s mostly 5.00-5.25.  
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was fairly slow as 
processors were shut-down or used previously contract potatoes.  Open-market 
prices paid to growers by processors for Russet Burbank bulk, storage-run, per 
hundredweight (cwt), F.O.B. grower's storage, Russet Burbank:  French-fry 
quality 5.00 U.S. Two Processing Grade 2 inch minimum.  Open-market prices paid 
to shippers by processors, bulk, per cwt for Washed Processing (Dehydration) 
Quality Russet Burbank and Norkotah 1.00 plus haul.  The Amsterdam April 2004 
potato futures January 5th were about $11.36 per cwt.  Also noted was news that 
some 60 containers of Columbia Basin French frys pre-field in beef tallow were 
being held from Asian markets.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 267-192*-189---Movement expected to increase
slightly. Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract. Too few open market
sales to establish a market.  *revised
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 76-52*-46---Movement expected to increase 
slightly. Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract. Too few open market
sales to establish a market.  *revised
   NEW YORK---Shipments to Chippers 55-51-35---Movement expected to increase 
slightly.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few open
market sales to establish a market.  
   PENNSYLVANIA---Shipments to Chippers 19-16-11---Movement expected about the 
same.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few open 
market sales to establish a market.  
   OHIO---Shipments to Chippers 17-7-7---Movement expected to increase 
slightly. Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too 
few open market sales to establish a market.    

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STAT News Service

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