United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Mar 2/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

21, AND 28, 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS)
UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 29 - MARCH 13, 2004.
PRICES ARE FOR MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23,
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 236-259-308---Movement expected
to remain about the same.  Trading Yellow Super colossal fairly active, others
slow.  Prices Yellow Super colossal higher, others lower.  50 pound sacks
U.S. One Yellow Spanish Hybrid Super colossal mostly 12.50-13.00, colossal
mostly 9.50-10.00, jumbo mostly 6.50-7.00, medium two one-fourth inch minimum
mostly 5.00, Red 25 pound sacks large mostly 9.00-9.50, medium 5.00-6.00.
Shipments for February, 2004 were 2,584 400 hundredweight (cwt) which was down
26% from February, 2003 total of 3,507 400-cwt.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 281-249-237 (includes export 70-64-64)
---Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading moderate. Prices slightly
lower.  Yellow Hybrid 50 pound sacks Jumbo 7.00-8.00, Medium mostly 5.50.
25 lb pound sacks Red Jumbo 7.00-8.00, Medium 4.50-5.00. White 50 pound sacks
Jumbo mostly 10.00-11.00, Medium 10.00. Remaining supplies of white onions in
few hands.  A couple of packingsheds are finished for the season. Most exports
going to: Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Shipments 121-152-147---Movement
expected to decrease slightly as some shippers are expecting a short gap in
supplies.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices Yellow medium, repacker size, and White
medium generally unchanged, others lower.  50 pound sacks White jumbo mostly
9.00-10.00, medium mostly 8.00, repacker size 7.00-8.00, Yellow Grano 40
pound carton jumbo mostly 12.00, Yellow Grano 50 pound sacks jumbo mostly 9.00,
medium mostly 8.00, repacker size mostly 7.00.  Shipments last week were
approximately 70% Yellow, 20% White and 10% Red.  U.S. onion shipments for
February, 2004 were 9,020 400-hundredweight (cwt) which was up 2% from February,
2003 total of 8,805 400-cwt.
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 66-65-56---Movement expected to
remain about the same. Trading moderate. Prices 2 inch minimum lower, others
unchanged. Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 pound sacks medium 7.00-7.50, master
container 16 3-pound mesh sacks medium 2 1/4 inch minimum 8.50-9.00, 2 inch
minimum 6.50-7.00, 25 pound sacks Red Globe type jumbo mostly 9.00-9.50,
medium mostly 4.75-5.00.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 36-31-24---Movement expected to decrease seasonally.
Trading fairly slow. Prices lower. 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 9.00-9.50, repacker size 6.50-7.00.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 28-29-23---Movement expected to decrease
slightly.  Trading moderate.  Prices generally unchanged.  Yellow Globe type
U.S. One 50 pound sacks medium mostly 8.00, master container 16 3-pound mesh
sacks medium 9.00-9.50.  Shipments for the month of February were 265
400-hundredweight (cwt).  This was an increase of 27 percent from February
2003 shipments of 193 400-cwt.
   ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK---Shipments 24-27-21---Movement expected to remain
about the same. Trading slow on light supplies. 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 9.00-9.50, 2 inch minimum
mostly 7.50-8.00, Red Globe type 25 pound sacks jumbo 9.00-10.00, medium mostly
5.00-5.50.  Remaining supplies in few hands. Wide range in quality.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 594-616-678---
Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading cartons active, U.S. Two
moderate, baled fairly slow.  Prices higher.  Russet Burbank and some Norkotah
U.S. One baled 5 10-pound mesh bags non-size A 2.50-2.75, 50 pound cartons
40-70s mostly 11.50, 80s mostly 9.25-9.50, 90s mostly 5.50, 100s mostly
4.25-4.50.  Shipments for the month of February were 2,517,000 hundredweight.
This was a 9 percent decrease from February 2003 shipments of 2,759,000 cwt.
The shipments for last week were approximately 79% Russet Burbank according to
the Marketing Order Committee.
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 365-395-398 (includes exports
16-12-13)---Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading fairly slow.
Prices Yellow type higher, others generally unchanged.  U.S. One Russet
Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film bags non size A mostly 3.00, 50 pound 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 (cwt)
size A 3.75-4.25, U.S. One Round Red baled 5 10-pound film bags size A
3.00-4.00, Yellow Type baled 10 5-pound film bags size A 6.50-8.50.  2004 total
February shipments were 1,471,000 hundredweight (cwt) compared to 1,955,000
cwt in 2003.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 259-242-267---Movement expected to remain
about the same.  Trading very slow.  Prices Russet baled 5 10-pound film bags
size A and 5-9 ounce slightly lower, others generally unchanged.  U.S. One
Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film bags non-size A 2.75-3.00, size A mostly
3.00-3.50, 5-9 ounce 4.00-4.75, 50 pound cartons 50-70s mostly 7.00-7.50,
80s 6.00-6.50, 90s mostly 5.00-5.25, 100s mostly 4.00-4.25, Round Red 50 pound
sacks size A 3.00-3.50, size B mostly 6.00-6.50.  Shipments for the month of
February were 878,000 hundredweight (cwt).  This was a 3 percent increase from
February 2003 shipments of 853,000 cwt.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All Washington
Districts 135-167-144 (includes export 23-31-26)---Shipments Umatilla Basin,
OR 26-24-24 (includes export 1-2-3)---Movement expected to remain about the
same. Trading carton 90-100s active, carton 60-80s fairly active, carton 40-50s
moderate and bales slow. Prices generally unchanged. Mostly Russet Norkotah
US One 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum. Baled 5 10-pound filmbags non Size A 2.00-2.50,
10 5-pound filmbags non Size A 3.00-3.50, 50 pound Cartons 40s 6.50-7.50,
50s 7.00-8.00, 60s mostly 8.00, 70s 8.00-8.50, 80s 6.50-7.00, 90s 5.50-6.00,
100s mostly 5.00. Good export demand for 90 and 100 count continues. Quality
generally good.
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement expected about
the same. Trading Round Red size A fairly slow, others moderate. Prices Round
Red and Yukon Gold size A slightly lower, others generally unchanged. U.S. One
50 pound carton Round Red Size A mostly 8.00-9.00, Size B 14.00, One inch
minimum 30.00. Yukon Gold Size A mostly 12.00-13.00, Size B mostly 7.00-8.00,
One inch minimum 30.00. Quality generally good.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 68-89-103---Movement expected to increase. Trading
Round Red Size B and Round White Size A active, others moderate. Prices
generally unchanged. Round Red U.S. One 50 pound cartons 3/4-1 5/8" 30.30,
50 pound sacks size A 6.30, size B 14.30; Round White (first report) U.S. One
50 pound sacks size A 20.30. Quality Good.
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 107-90-80---Movement
expected to remain about the same.  Trading size A slow, size B fairly active.
Prices size A generally unchanged, size B higher.  U.S. One Round Red 100 pound
sack size A mostly 6.00-6.50, 50 pound sacks size B mostly 6.00-7.00, baled
5 10-pound film bag size A mostly 4.25-4.50.  2004 total February shipments
were 406,000 hundredweight (cwt) compared to 391,000 cwt in 2003.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 74-95*-80---Movement expected about the
same.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Round White U.S. One 10 pound open
window sacks loose 2 inch minimum mostly .50-.55, baled 10 5-pound filmbags
mostly 3.75-4.00, 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 4.50-5.00, Russet Norkotah
2 inch minimum 4.00-4.50.  Season to-date total is approximately 26 percent
(1172 loads) behind the prior season.  *revised
   KERN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA---Winter Crop Shipments 61-65-49---Movement
expected to decrease as the season winds down.  Trading moderate.  Unofficial
prices for Monday, March 1st,  50 pound cartons U.S. One Round Red size A
6.00, size B 14.00, Long White size A 20.00, size B 10.00.
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments
34-36-45---Movement expected about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices
generally unchanged. Mostly 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. Some packingsheds are running partial schedules.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 40-39-34---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.  Season to date totals are
nearly the same as the previous season for the same time period.
   LONG ISLAND NEW YORK---Shipments 24-19-20 (includes export 3-4-5)---
Movement expected to decrease slightly.  Trading very slow.  Prices
generally unchanged.  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 mostly
4.75-5.00, 5 10-pound filmbags too few sales to establish a market.
Loads to date are approximately 290 loads behind last season for the
same time period.
   NEW BRUNSWICK(CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 22-26-*---
Movement expected about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices 80-100 size
cartons slightly lower, filmbags unchanged.  Russet Norkotah U.S.One
2 inch or 4 ounce minimum baled 10 5-pound filmbags mostly 4.00-4.50,
50-pound cartons 70 size 6.25-6.75, 80 size 5.50-5.75, 90 size 5.00-5.25,
100 size 4.50-5.00.  *unavailable
---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 (cwt), less dirt, rot and green tare F.O.B. growers
storage unless otherwise stated:  French-Fry Quality:  U.S. No. Two Process
Grade 1 5/8 inch minimum 4.85-5.00, with dirt, rot and serious green tare
1 7/8 inch minimum 4.25, Alturas dirt, rot and serious green tare 2 inch
minimum 4.25.  The Amsterdam April potato futures contract fell to $8.86
per cwt on March 1st.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 170-183*-182---Movement expected
about the same. Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.
Prices represent few open market sales.  Round White various chipping
varieties 85% or better U.S.One bulk per hundredweight (cwt) 1 7/8 inch
minimum 2.75-3.00.  Season-to-date total is nearly 6.4 million cwt compared
to 6.7 million cwt last season.  *revised
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 29-24*-27---Movement expected about the
same.  Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.  Too few
open market sales to establish a market.  Shipments from the start of season
through February (1.21 million hundredweight) is 3 percent behind the same
period last season (1.25 million hundredweight).  *revised
   NEW YORK---Shipments to Chippers 43-28*-39---Movement expected to decrease
slightly.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contract.  Too few
open market sales to establish a market.  Shipments to date (1.54 million
hundredweight) is 2 percent above the previous season (1.51 million
hundredweight). *revised
   PENNSYLVANIA---Shipments to Chippers 23-17-18---Movement expected to
decrease.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contract.  Too few
open market sales to establish a market.
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   MAINE---Shipments 64-48-*---Movement expected to increase slightly.
Trading slow.  Prices generally unchanged.  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) Superior
prompt delivery mostly 5.00-5.50, Reba and Eva March delivery 6.50-7.00,
Norwis March-April delivery mostly 6.50, Katahdin March delivery
6.00-6.50.  Current shipments mostly to North Carolina.  Primary varieties
include Atlantic and other chipping varieties and Dark Red Norland and
Superior for the table market.  Shipments from start of season through
February 21 are 382,652 cwt compared to the previous season to date total
of 439,863 cwt (down 13 per cent).  Truck shortage delaying some shipments.
*unavailable

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STAT News Service

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