Winter Potato Harvest Declines

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/04 - SNS -- This season's winter potato harvest in the United States is expected to drop to 3.84 million cwt (100 pound units), down 5% from a year ago and 9% below 2002, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

Harvested acreage in the two winter potato States (California and Florida) is estimated at 14,000 acres, down 2% from 2003, while the average yield is forecast at 274 cwt per acre, 8 cwt below last year. Harvest is underway in California's Kern County and proceeding normally. In Florida, mostly mild, dry fall weather provided good conditions for crop development.

Spring potato production for 2003 is revised to 24.4 million cwt, up 10% from the May forecast and 5% above 2002. Harvested area totaled 84,700 acres, down 2% from a year ago, while the average yield of 288 cwt per acre increased 17 cwt from 2002.

Spring potato production increased 47% from 2002 in Texas and 9% in California on the strength of higher average yields. Florida's crop of 8.01 million cwt was up 2% from 2002. Production in North Carolina is off 17% and Arizona's potato production is 1% below a year ago.

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