United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Feb 3/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

AND 31, 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS) UNITS.
EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 1-14, 2004.  PRICES
ARE FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 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 425-364-257---Movement 
expected to remain about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices Yellow Super 
colossal and medium Red higher, White and large Red slightly lower, others 
generally unchanged.  50 pound sacks U.S. One Yellow Spanish Hybrid 
Super colossal mostly 13.00, colossal mostly 11.00, jumbo mostly 10.00, 
medium two one-fourth inch minimum mostly 7.00, White large 13.00-15.00, 
medium 13.00-15.00, Red 25 pound sacks large mostly 9.50, medium mostly 7.00.
Shipments for the month of January 2004 were 3,451 400-hundredweight units,
down 8% from a year ago.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 263-274-279 (includes export 
80-102-111)---Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading fairly 
active. Prices white onions higher, others generally unchanged. 
Yellow Hybrid 50 pound sacks Colossal supplies insufficient to establish
a market, Jumbo 8.50-9.00, Medium mostly 7.00. 25 pound sacks Red Jumbo 
8.50-9.00, Medium mostly 6.00. White 50 pound sacks Jumbo 14.00-16.00, 
Medium 13.00-16.00. Remaining supplies of Colossal yellow and white onions
in few hands.  Most exports going to: Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan 
and United Kingdom. 
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 63-51-52---Movement expected to
remain about the same. Trading moderate. Prices Yellow Globe type 2 inch and
larger higher, others unchanged. Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 pound sacks 
medium 8.50-9.00, 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 9.50-10.50, 2 inch
minimum 8.00-9.00, 25 pound sacks Red Globe type jumbo 9.00-10.00, medium 
mostly 5.00-5.50.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 46-33-32---Movement expected to remain about the 
same. Trading moderate. Prices 16 3-pound repacker size unchanged, 
others higher. Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 pound sacks medium 7.00-7.50, 
repacker size mostly 6.50, master container 16 3-pound mesh sacks medium 
mostly 10.00-10.50, repacker size mostly 7.00-7.50. 
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 38-27-27---Movement expected to remain about 
the same.  Trading active.  Prices generally unchanged.  Yellow Globe type 
U.S. One 50 pound sacks medium 7.00-8.00, master container 16 3-pound 
mesh sacks medium 9.00-9.50.  Shipments for the month of January were 
343 400-hundredweight (cwt) units.  This was a 16% increase from 296 
400-cwt shipped a year ago.
   ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK---Shipments 27-23-23---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 9.00-10.00, medium 
mostly 5.50-6.00.  Wide range in quality.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Shipments 13-17-21---Movement 
expected to increase as more shippers enter into the deal.  Unofficial 
prices for Monday, February 2nd, 50 pound sacks White jumbo 18.00, 
medium 6.00, repacker size 12.00-14.00, Yellow 40 pound carton jumbo 
22.00-24.00, Yellow 50 pound sacks medium 11.00, repacker size 8.00.  Showers
in the Tampico area are still slowing harvest.  Sufficient volume for starting
a daily F.O.B. price report is expected within ten days.  Shipments for 
January 2004 were 134 400-hundredweight units.
   NORTH & EAST POINTS, COLORADO---Shipments 38-17-14---Movement expected 
about the same.  Trading fairly active for light supplies.  Prices medium 
higher, others generally unchanged.  Yellow 50 pound sacks Super colossal 
15.00-16.00, colossal 13.00-15.00, jumbo mostly 12.00, medium mostly 9.00.
Shipments for the District and Western Slope combined for January 2004 
were 649 400-hundredweight.  This was down 15% from last year.
   WESTERN SLOPE COLORADO---Shipments 32-15-13---Movement expected to decrease
as most shippers finish for the season.  Trading moderate.  Prices generally
unchanged.  50 pound sacks Yellow jumbo mostly 11.50, medium 8.00.  Light 
shipments expected to continue for approximately two weeks.  LAST REPORT.
   PERUVIAN IMPORTS THROUGH VARIOUS EAST COAST PORTS---Shipments 20-12-13---
Movement expected to decrease seasonally.  Light shipments expected to 
continue for the next two weeks.  Unofficial prices for Monday, February 2nd,
Yellow Granex 40 lb cartons U.S. One jumbo mostly 24.00-26.00.  Shipments 
for the month of January were 206 400-hundredweight (cwt) units.  This was 
down more than half from 448 400-cwt units shipped a year ago.
   UTAH DISTRICT---Shipments 30-19-12---Movement expected to decrease as 
most shippers finish for the season.  Unofficial prices for Monday, 
February 2nd, 50 pound sacks Yellow jumbo 9.50-10.00, medium mostly 
6.50-6.75.  Shipments for January 2004 were 283 400-hundredweight units.
This was up 8% from last year.  Light shipments to continue for another 
two weeks.  LAST REPORT.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 889-679-636---
Movement expected about the same.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices lower.  
Russet Burbank and some Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-lb mesh bags non-size A
mostly 2.50, 50 pound cartons 40-50s 10.50-11.00, 60s mostly 10.50, 
70s 10.00-11.00, 80s 9.00, 90s 5.00-6.00, 100s 4.00-4.50.  January shipments
were 3.04 million hundredweight (cwt) compared to 3.35 million cwt last year,
down 9%.  Season-to-date through January was 15 and three-quarters million cwt
compared to 16.14 million cwt last year and 15.0 million cwt in 2002.
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 451-397-375---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 3.00-3.25,
50 pound cartons 40-70s mostly 7.50, 80s mostly 6.50, 90s mostly 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.  
Colorado total shipments to January 31 were 7,808,000 hundredweight compared
to last season to date of 9,005,000 cwt.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 316-265-324---Movement expected to remain 
about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices Russet carton 50-70s & 90s 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 7.00-8.00, 80s mostly 6.00-6.50, 90s mostly 5.00-5.50,
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 supplies in too few hands
to establish a market.  (Round White will be reported for the balance of the
season on an unofficial basis).  According to trade sources, for Monday, 
February 2nd, Round White 50 pound sacks size A were mostly 3.00-3.50. 
Shipments for the month of January were 1,323,000 hundredweight (cwt).  This 
was a 25% increase from a year ago when 1,058,000 cwt was shipped.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All Washington 
Districts 215-188-192 (includes export 34-22-18)---Shipments Umatilla Basin, 
OR 35-34-18 (includes export 4-1-0)---Movement expected to remain about the 
same. Trading slow. Prices carton 40-80s lower, others 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 mostly 6.50-7.50, 50s mostly 7.50-8.50, 60-70s mostly 
8.00-8.50, 80s 6.50-7.00, 90s 5.00-5.50, 100s 4.00-5.00. Quality 
generally good. 
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement expected 
about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices generally unchanged. U.S.One 
50 pound carton Round Red Size A mostly 10.00, 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 143-108-118---
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.  Shipments for the month of January 2004 were 
553,000 hundredweight, up 8% from last year.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 98-99*-90---Movement expected to remain
about the same.  Trading fairly slow. Prices unchanged.  Round White U.S. One
10 pound open window sacks loose 2 inch minimum mostly .55-.60, baled 
10 5-pound filmbags mostly 3.75-4.00, 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 5.00-5.25, 
Russet Norkotah 2 inch minimum 4.25-4.75.  Preliminary figures show Maine 
shipments from the start of the season through January are down nearly 
28 percent from the same period the previous season. 
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments 
65-41-45---Movement expected about the same. Trading slow. 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 46-29-37---Movement expected to increase slightly.
Trading fairly 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.   Shipments from start of season 
through January are down by 2 percent.
   KERN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA---Winter Crop Shipments 61-60-33---Movement 
expected to remain about the same.  Trading fairly active.  Unofficial 
prices for Monday, February 2nd, 50 pound cartons U.S. One Round Red 
size A 6.00-8.00, size B 7.00; Long White size A 16.00-18.00, size B 10.00;
Yellow-flesh size A 14.00, size B 10.00.
   NEW BRUNSWICK(CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 26-33-*---   
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 6.50-7.25, 80 size 
6.00-6.50, 90-100 size mostly 5.00-5.50.   *unavailable
   LONG ISLAND NEW YORK---Shipments 36-22-24 (includes export 3-2-4)---
Movement expected about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices 50-pound sacks 
slightly lower, baled generally unchanged.  Round White U.S.One size A 
50 pound sacks mostly 3.25, large mostly 4.25-4.50, baled 10 5-pound 
filmbags 5.25-5.75, 5 10-pound filmbags 4.25-4.75.  Shipments from start 
of season through January are down 15 percent from the previous season.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 0-4-5---Expect sufficient volume for the first
F.O.B. report to be achieved by mid to late February.
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was moderate.
Open-market prices paid to growers by processors for Russet Burbank 
potatoes, storage-run, bulk, per cwt, less dirt, rot and green tare 
F.O.B. grower storage unless otherwise stated:  French-fry quality U.S. Two
Processing Grade, 1 5/8 inch minimum 4.50.  Open-market prices paid to 
shippers by processors, Russet Burbank, bulk, per cwt for washed Processing
(Fry Grade) Quality 3.50 delivered.  The Amsterdam April potato futures 
contract was about $10.41 per cwt on February 2nd.  
Note: The washed process grade price series has been discontinued.   
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 221-213*-194---Movement expected 
to remain about the same. Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season 
contract. Prices represent few open market sales.  Round White Snowden
U.S. One 85% or better 1 7/8 inch minimum bulk per cwt mostly 3.00.
Shipments from start of season through January are down nearly 8 percent
from the previous season.  *revised
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 64-55*-53---Movement expected about the 
same.  Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.  Too few 
open market sales to establish a market.    Shipments from start of 
season through January down 1 percent from the previous season.  
*revised
   NEW YORK---Shipments to Chippers 60-39-45--Movement expected about 
the same.  Trading slow.   Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too 
few open market sales to establish a market.   Shipments to date 
through January are up 3 percent from the previous season.      
   PENNSYLVANIA---Shipments to Chippers 18-19-25---Movement expected 
about the same.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few open 
market sales to establish a market.  
   OHIO---Shipments to Chippers 7-4-*---Movement expected about the 
same. Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few 
open market sales to establish a market.  Shipments from start of season
are up sharply at 43 percent from the previous season.  *not available  
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   MAINE---Shipments 37-36-*---Movement expected to increase.   Trading 
slow.  Most movement from earlier sales.  Prices represent few new 
sales.  Weekly price range of Maine G1 or better Certified US One size A 
bulk per hundredweight (cwt) Atlantic prompt delivery 4.50-5.00, Dark 
Red Norland prompt delivery 4.50-4.75 cwt (packed in 50 pound bags).  
Current shipments are mostly to Florida and starting in North Carolina.
Primary varieties are Atlantic and LaChipper.  Some earlier contracted 
sales were cancelled due to poor demand and weak pricing.   Shipments
from the start of the season through January were down by nearly 24 
per cent from the previous season.   FIRST REPORT.   *not available  

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STAT News Service

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