United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Jan 21/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

AND 17, 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS) UNITS.
EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 18-31, 2004.  PRICES ARE FOR
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2004.  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.





ONIONS AND POTATOES
---ONIONS, DRY
   IDAHO AND MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON---Shipments 168-274-425---Movement 
expected to remain about the same.  Trading fairly active.  Prices Yellow 
medium generally unchanged, others higher.  50 pound sacks U.S. One Yellow 
Spanish Hybrid Super colossal 12.00-13.00, colossal mostly 11.00, jumbo 
mostly 10.00, medium two one-fourth inch minimum mostly 7.00, White large 
mostly 15.00, medium mostly 15.00, Red 25 pound sacks large mostly 9.50-10.00,
medium mostly 6.50.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 141-178-263(includes export 50-44-80)---
Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading fairly active. Prices Jumbo
Yellow Hybrid and White slightly higher, others generally unchanged. Yellow 
Hybrid 50 pound sacks Colossal mostly 9.50, Jumbo 8.50-9.00, Medium mostly 7.00.
25 pound sacks Red Jumbo 8.00-9.00, Medium mostly 6.00. White 50 pound sacks 
Jumbo 13.00-14.00, Medium 13.00-14.00. Remaining supplies of Colossal yellow 
and white onions in few hands.  Most exports going to: Canada, Japan, South 
Korea, and Taiwan. 
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 46-71-63---Movement expected to 
remain about the same. Trading active. Prices higher. Yellow Globe type 
U.S. One 50 pound sacks medium 8.00-8.50, repacker size 6.50-7.00, master 
container 16 3-pound mesh sacks repacker size 7.50-8.00, medium 2 1/4 inch
minimum 9.00-10.00, 2 inch minimum 8.00-8.50, 25 pound sacks Red Globe type 
jumbo mostly 9.00-9.50, medium mostly 5.00-5.50.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 33-44-46---Movement expected to remain about the 
same. Trading active. 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 
9.50-10.00, repacker size mostly 7.00-7.50. 
   NORTH & EAST POINTS, COLORADO---Shipments 48-53-38---Movement expected
to decrease as some shippers finish for the season.  Trading medium fairly
slow, others fairly active.  Prices medium lower, jumbo generally unchanged,
others higher.  Yellow 50 pound sacks super colossal 15.00-16.00, colossal
13.00-15.00, jumbo mostly 12.00, medium 7.00-8.00.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 23-37-38---Movement expected to remain about 
the same.  Trading active.  Prices generally unchanged.  Yellow Globe type 
U.S. One 50 pound sacks medium mostly 6.25-6.50, master container 16 3-pound
mesh sacks medium 7.50-9.50.
   WESTERN SLOPE COLORADO---Shipments 25-35-32---Movement expected to remain 
about the same.  Trading fairly active.  Prices generally unchanged.  50 pound
sacks Yellow colossal 11.50-12.00, jumbo 10.50-11.00, medium 8.00.  
   UTAH DISTRICT---Shipments 21-32-30---Movement expected to decrease as a few 
shippers finish for the season.  Unofficial prices for Tuesday, January 20th,
50 pound sacks Yellow jumbo 9.50-10.50, medium mostly 6.50-8.00.
   ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK---Shipments 22-23-27---Movement expected to remain 
about the same. Trading moderate. Prices unchanged. Yellow Globe type 
U.S. One 50 pound sacks 2 1/4 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 22-30-20---
Movement expected to decrease as more importers continue to finish marketing.
Remaining supplies in too few hands to establish a market.  Light shipments 
expected to continue until approximately mid-February. Unofficial prices for
Tuesday, January 20th, Yellow Granex 40 pound cartons U.S. One jumbo mostly
22.00-24.00.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Shipments 1-4-13---Movement expected 
to increase slightly.  Unofficial prices for Tuesday, January 20th, 50 pound
sacks White jumbo 16.00-17.00, medium 15.00-18.00, repacker size 12.00-14.00.  
Shippers in the Tampico area have experienced delays in harvest due to rain
in the growing area.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 397-744-814---
Movement expected to decrease.  Trading cartons moderate, baled slow.  Prices
baled and 100 counts lower, cartons 40-80 counts higher.  Russet Burbank and 
some Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-pound mesh bags non-size A 2.50-3.00, 50 pound
cartons 40-50s 11.00, 60s mostly 11.00, 70s 10.50-11.00, 80s 9.00-9.50, 
90s mostly 6.00, 100s mostly 4.50.  The very good demand for large-sized 
cartons (40-80 count) slowed during the late stages of the trading period as 
shippers concluded the movement of carried-over orders from the holidays and 
weather-shortened work days.
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 330-454-451---Movement expected to 
remain about the same.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices Russet cartons 
40-70s 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 7.00-8.00,
80s 6.00-6.50, 90s mostly 5.00-5.50, 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.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 265-331-316---Movement expected to remain 
about the same.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices 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 mostly 6.00-6.50, Round White 50 pound 
sacks size A mostly 3.00-3.50.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All Washington 
Districts 153-185-215 (includes export 13-22-34---Shipments Umatilla Basin, 
OR 3-26-35 (includes export 0-2-4)---Movement expected about the same. Trading 
moderate. Prices generally 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 4.00-5.00. Quality generally good. 
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement expected about
the same. Trading moderate. Prices generally unchanged. U.S.One 50 pound carton
Round Red Size A 10.00-11.00, Size B 14.00, 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 125-151-143---Movement
expected to remain about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices generally
unchanged.  U.S. One Round Red 100 pound size A sack mostly 6.00-6.50, 50 pound
sacks size B mostly 6.50-7.00, baled 5 10-pound film bag size A mostly 4.25-4.50.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 90-111-93---Movement expected about the 
same.  Trading fairly slow. Prices slightly lower. Round White U.S.One 10 pound
open window sacks loose 2 inch minimum mostly .55-.60, baled 10 5-pound filmbags
mostly 4.00-4.25, 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 5.00-5.25, Russet Norkotah 2 inch
minimum 4.25-4.75.  According to the January 1 stocks released by NASS, holdings
are 8 per cent greater than the previous January.
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments 
59-57-65---Movement expected about the same. Trading moderate. Prices generally
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. 
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 37-59-46---Movement expected to decrease slightly.  
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.  According to NASS, January 1 holdings are the same as the 
previous January.  However, the 2002 crop production final figure was adjusted 
upward by 3 per cent to just over 15.0 million hundredweight. 
   LONG ISLAND NEW YORK---Shipments 29-31-36(includes export 3-*-3)---Movement 
expected about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices baled lower, others generally
unchanged.  Round White U.S.One size A 50 pound sacks mostly 3.25-3.50, large 
mostly 4.50-4.75, baled 10 5-pound filmbags 5.25-5.75, 5 10-pound filmbags 
4.25-4.75.  According to NASS, the January 1 holdings for New York state climbed
sharply by 56 percent from last January.   *unavailable
   KERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 71-11-32---WINTER CROP UPDATE---
Movement expected to remain light.  Trading Long White and Yellow type fairly 
active, Round Red slow.  Prices U.S. One 50 pound cartons Long White size A 
15.50-18.00, size B 8.00-10.00, Yellow-type size A 14.00, size B 8.50-10.00.  
Several shippers will finish with the Long White crop by end of January.  Most
expect a skip by early March before Imperial Valley supplies are available.  
Spring Crop planting is on schedule and about finished on the Long White and 
Round Red crop and likely will continue to mid-February on the Russet crop.
There have been a few rain delays.
   NEW BRUNSWICK (CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 28-27-26---   
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 70-80 size mostly 6.00-6.50, 90-100 size mostly 
5.00-5.50.   According to the January 1 stocks issued by Agriculture and 
Agri-Food Canada, New Brunswick holdings (10,772,000 cwt) were down by 1 per 
cent from last January.  However, the maritime provinces combined (Prince Edward
Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia) increased 2 percent from last year. 
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Most growers expected to begin the harvest by mid-February.
Expect sufficient volume for the first F.O.B. report by middle to end of February.
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was fairly slow.  
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 4.50 1 5/8 inch minimum U.S. Two Processing Grade, small 
contract overage 2.50 2 inch minimum less dirt, rot and green tare.  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 20th were about $10.73 per cwt.  
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 202-186*-194---Movement expected 
about the same. Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.   
Too few open market sales to establish a market.  *revised
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 54-46*-53---Movement expected about the 
same.  Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.  Too few 
open market sales to establish a market.  *revised
   NEW YORK---Shipments to Chippers 35-53-47---Movement expected about 
the same.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few 
open market sales to establish a market.        
   PENNSYLVANIA---Shipments to Chippers 11-18-18---Movement expected about the 
same.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few open 
market sales to establish a market.  According to NASS, January 1 holdings 
rose sharply by 45 per cent over last January.
   OHIO---Shipments to Chippers 7-10-7---Movement expected about the 
same. Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few 
open market sales to establish a market.   According to NASS, January 1 holdings
rose sharply by 350 per cent over last season at this time.  

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STAT News Service

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