United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Feb 18/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

FEBRUARY 7 AND 14, 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS) 
UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 15-28, 2004.  PRICES
ARE FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 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 257-267-236---Movement expected 
to continue about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices Red large generally unchanged, 
others lower.  50 lb sacks U.S. One Yellow Spanish Hybrid Super colossal mostly 12.50, 
colossal mostly 10.00, jumbo mostly 8.50-9.00, medium 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 
6.00-6.50, White large mostly 13.00, medium 12.00-13.00, Red 25 lb sacks large mostly 
9.50, medium mostly 6.00.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 279-270-281 (includes export 111-72-70)---
Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading moderate. Prices lower. Remaining 
supplies of White onions in few hands. Yellow Hybrid 50 lb sacks jumbo mostly 8.00, 
medium mostly 6.00, 25 lb sacks Red jumbo 8.00-8.50, medium mostly 5.00-5.50, White 
50 lb sacks jumbo mostly 12.00-13.00, medium mostly 12.00-13.00. Most exports going 
to: Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan and United Kingdom. 
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 52-63-66---Movement is expected to remain 
about the same. Trading moderate. Prices Yellow Globe type lower, others unchanged. 
Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 lb sacks medium 8.00-8.50, repacker size 6.00-7.00, 
master container 16 3-lb mesh sacks medium 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 9.50-10.00, 
2 inch minimum mostly 8.00, 25 lb sacks Red Globe type jumbo 9.00-10.00, medium mostly 
5.00-5.50. 
   ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK---Shipments 23-22-24---Movement expected to remain about 
the same. Supplies light.  Trading slow. Prices Yellow Globe type 2 inch minimum and 
Red Globe type medium lower, others generally unchanged. Yellow Globe type U.S. One 
50 lb sacks 2 inch minimum 6.50-7.00, master container 16 3-lb mesh sacks medium 2 1/4
minimum 9.00-9.50, 2 inch minimum mostly 7.50-8.00, Red Globe type 25 lb sacks jumbo 
9.00-10.00, medium mostly 5.00-5.50.  Remaining supplies in few hands. Wide range in 
quality.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 32-37-36---Movement is expected to remain about the same. 
Trading moderate. Prices generally unchanged. Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 lb sacks 
medium 7.00-7.50, repacker size mostly 6.50, master container 16 3-lb mesh sacks medium 
10.00-10.50, repacker size mostly 7.00-7.50. A few growers have finished for the season.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 27-27-28---Movement expected to decrease slightly.  
Trading active.  Prices slightly higher.  Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 lb sacks medium 
8.00-8.25, master container 16 3-lb mesh sacks medium mostly 9.50.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Shipments 21-70-121---Movement expected to 
increase slightly.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices lower.  50 lb sacks White jumbo 
12.00-14.00, medium 10.00-14.00, repacker size 8.00-10.00, Yellow 40 lb carton jumbo 
14.00-16.00, Yellow 50 lb sacks jumbo 10.00-12.00, medium 8.00-9.00, repacker size 
7.00-8.00.  These onions are inspected under the 8e requirements of Federal Marketing 
Orders, using the Bermuda Grano-Granex grade standards.  Shipments last week were 
approximately 72% Yellow, 22% White and 6% Red.
   NORTH AND EAST POINTS, COLORADO---Shipments 14-15-15---Movement expected to
continue light.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices lower.  Yellow 50 lb sacks colossal 
13.00, jumbo mostly 11.00, medium 9.00.  Light shipments will continue for a couple 
of weeks.  Shipments for all of Colorado ending up about 20% less than last year.  
LAST REPORT.
   PERUVIAN IMPORTS THROUGH VARIOUS EAST COAST PORTS---Shipments 13-11-5---Movement 
expected to decrease seasonally.  Light shipments expected to generally end in the 
next 10 to 14 days.  LAST REPORT.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 636-625-594---Movement 
expected to increase slightly.  Trading cartons 40-80s very active, U.S. Two slow, 
others moderate.  Prices carton 40-80s slightly higher, 90s slightly lower, others 
generally unchanged.  Russet Burbank and some Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-lb mesh 
bags non-size A mostly 2.50, 50 lb cartons 40-60s 11.00, 70s mostly 11.00, 80s 9.00-
9.50, 90s mostly 5.00-5.50, 100s 4.00-4.50.  Some sheds ran part-time last week due 
to cold temperatures and market conditions.  Last weeks shipments were approximately 
77% Burbanks (Marketing Order data).
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 375-372-365 (includes exports 16-16-16)---
Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices Russet 
cartons 40-70 slightly higher, Round Red baled lower, others generally unchanged.  
U.S. One Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-lb film bags non size A mostly 3.00, 50 lb cartons 
40s mostly 7.00-7.50, 50-70s mostly 7.50-8.00, 80s 6.50-7.00, 90s 5.00-6.00, 100s 
mostly 5.00, U.S. Commercial unwashed bulk per hundredweight size A 3.75-4.25, U.S. 
One Round Red baled 5 10-lb film bags size A 3.00-4.00, Yellow Type baled 10 5-lb film 
bags size A 6.00-8.00.  Exports season to date total 229,000 hundredweight. This is the 
first report showing export shipments.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 324-304-259---Movement expected to remain about 
the same.  Trading very slow.  Prices Russet carton 50-70s and baled 5 10-lb film 
bags size A slightly lower, others generally unchanged.  U.S. One Russet Norkotah 
baled 5 10-lb film bags non-size A mostly 2.75-3.00, size A mostly 3.25-3.50, 
5-9 oz 4.25-5.00, 50 lb cartons 50-70s mostly 7.00-7.50, 80s mostly 6.00, 90s mostly 
5.00-5.25, 100s mostly 4.00-4.25, Round Red 50 lb sacks size A mostly 3.00-3.50, 
size B mostly 6.00-6.50. Round White unofficial prices Tuesday, February 17th 
50 lb sacks U.S. One size A 3.00-3.50.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON AND UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All Washington 
Districts 192-149-135 (includes export 18-19-23)---Shipments Umatilla Basin, 
OR 18-11-26 (includes export 0-1-1)---Movement expected about the same. Trading 
moderate. Prices Carton 90-100s slightly higher, others generally unchanged. Mostly 
Russet Norkotahs U.S. One 2 inch or 4 oz minimum. Baled 5 10-lb filmbags non size A 
2.50-2.75, 10 5-lb filmbags non size A 3.50-3.75, 50 lb Cartons 40s mostly 6.50-7.50, 
50s mostly 7.00-8.00, 60-70s mostly 8.00-8.50, 80s 6.50-7.00, 90s 5.00-6.00, 100s mostly 
4.50-5.00. Some sheds reporting good export demand for 90-100 counts.  
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement expected about the 
same. Trading fairly slow. Prices Red size A slightly lower, others generally unchanged. 
U.S. One 50 lb carton Round Red size A 8.00-10.00, size B 14.00, One inch minimum 30.00. 
Yukon Gold size A mostly 13.00, size B mostly 7.00-8.00, One inch minimum 30.00. 
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 118-128-107---Movement 
expected to remain about the same.  Trading size A moderate, size B fairly slow.  
Prices size A generally unchanged, size B lower.  U.S. One Round Red 100 lb sacks 
size A mostly 6.00-6.50, 50 lb sacks size B mostly 6.00, baled 5 10-lb film bag 
size A mostly 4.25-4.50.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 107-*93-70---Movement expected about the same.  
Trading slow. Prices 2 inch loose 10 pound slightly lower, others unchanged. Round 
white U.S. One 10 pound open window sacks loose 2 inch minimum mostly .50-.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.  *revised.  
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments 45-42-34---
Movement expected about the same. Trading slow. Prices generally unchanged. Russet 
Norkotahs baled filmbags non-size A 5-10 lb mostly 3.00-3.25, 10-5 lb mostly 4.00-4.25, 
50 lb cartons 40-70s mostly 10.00, 80s 7.00-8.00, 90s 6.00-7.00, 100s mostly 5.00. 
Some sheds running partial schedules.  Quality generally good.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 37-42-40---Movement expected to increase 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. 
   KERN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA---Winter Crop Shipments 33-71-61---Movement expected 
to decrease as season winds down.  Trading fairly active.  Unofficial prices for 
50 lb cartons U.S. One Round Red size A 5.00-8.00, size B 14.00, Long White size A 
16.00-20.00, size B 8.00-10.00, Yellow-flesh type size A 16.00.                 
   NEW BRUNSWICK (CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 25-44-22---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 mostly 6.50-6.75, 80 size 6.00-6.25, 90-100 size mostly 5.00-5.25. A few sheds 
shut down or working part-time due to marketing conditions.
   LONG ISLAND NEW YORK---Shipments 24-18-24 (includes export 4-3-3)---Movement 
expected about the same.  Trading very slow.  Prices lower.  Round white U.S. One 
size A 50 pound sacks mostly 2.75-3.00, large mostly 3.75-4.00, baled 10 5-pound 
filmbags 4.75-5.00, 5 10-pound filmbags mostly 4.00-4.25.  
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 5-26-68---Movement expected to increase. Trading 
moderate.  Prices generally unchanged. Round Red 50 lb cartons 3/4-1 5/8 inch 30.30, 
U.S. One 50-lb sacks size A 6.30, size B 12.30; Round White U.S. One 50 lb sacks 
expect sufficient volume in the next two weeks. First report on Round White. 
Quality Good.
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was moderate. 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: 1 5/8 inch minimum 4.00, less dirt, 
rot and serious green tare 1 7/8 inch minimum 3.50, U.S. Process Grade two, 
2 inch minimum 5.00. The Amsterdam April potato futures contract fell to $9.53 
per hundredweight on February 17th.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 163-*176-177---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 53-*43-42---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 46-*30-31---Movement expected about the same.  
Trading slow.  Too few open market sales to establish a market.  Most movement 
from pre-season contracts.  *revised.      
   PENNSYLVANIA---Shipments to Chippers 26-*20-23---Movement expected about the 
same.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few open market sales to 
establish a market.  *revised.
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   MAINE---Shipments 33-33-*---Movement expected to increase.  Trading slow.  
Prices Atlantic lower.  Most movement from earlier sales.  Prices represent few 
new sales.  Weekly price range of Maine G1 or better Certified U.S. One size A bulk 
per hundredweight Atlantic prompt delivery 3.50-4.00, Superior 5.00-5.50. Current 
shipments mostly to Florida and North Carolina.  Primary varieties include Atlantic 
and other chipping varieties and Superior for the table market. Shipments from start 
of season through February 7th are 270,667 hundredweight compared to the previous 
season to date total of 348,978 hundredweight.  Slight truck shortage. *unavailable.  

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STAT News Service

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