United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Mar 9/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

28, AND MARCH 6 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS)
UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD MARCH 7-20, 2004.  PRICES ARE
FOR MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, MARCH 1, 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 259-308-242---Movement
expected to remain about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices Yellow and
Red medium generally unchanged, others higher.  50 pound sacks U.S. One
Yellow Spanish Hybrid Super colossal mostly 14.00-16.00, colossal 10.00-11.00,
jumbo 7.00-8.00, medium two one-fourth inch minimum mostly 5.00, Red
25 pound sacks large 9.50, medium mostly 5.50.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 249-237-224 (includes export
64-64-55)---Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading moderate.
Prices White slightly lower, others generally unchanged.  Yellow Hybrid
50 pound sacks Jumbo mostly 7.00, Medium 5.00-6.00. 25 pound sacks Red Jumbo
7.00-8.00, Medium 4.00-5.00. White 50 pound sacks Jumbo 9.00-10.00,
Medium 9.00-10.00. Remaining supplies of White onions in few hands. Most
exports going to: Canada.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Shipments 152-147-119---Movement
expected to remain about the same this week, increase the week of March 14.
Trading active.  Prices White jumbo generally unchanged, others higher.
50 pound sacks White jumbo mostly 9.00-10.00, medium mostly 8.00-9.00,
repacker size mostly 8.00, Yellow Grano 40 pound carton jumbo 14.00-16.00,
Yellow Grano 50 pound sacks jumbo 12.00-14.00, medium mostly 10.00,
repacker size 7.00, Red 25 pound sacks jumbo 12.00, medium 8.00.  Shipments
last week were approximately 64% Yellow, 23% White and 13% Red.  The lower
shipments were due to rain-interrupted planting gaps and some disease
pressure.
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 65-56-52---Movement expected to
remain about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices Red Globe type slightly
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, medium 4.00-4.50.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 31-24-20---Movement expected to continue seasonal
decrease. Trading fairly slow on light supplies. Prices 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 9.00-9.50,
repacker size 6.50-7.00.
   ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK---Shipments 27-21-20---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.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 29-23-19---Movement expected to decrease
slightly.  There were too few sales to establish a market.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 616-678-620---
Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading cartons active, others
fairly slow.  Prices cartons higher, baled lower.  Russet Burbank and few
Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-pound mesh bags non-size A mostly 2.50, 50 pound
cartons 40-70s mostly 12.50, 80s mostly 10.00, 90s mostly 6.00, 100s mostly
4.50-5.00.  The smaller tuber size profile of the Russet Burbank crop and
lower packouts of many lots currently being offered (with current grower
returns below the cost of production) are contributing to the current price
increase in carton prices.
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 395-398-388 (includes exports 12-13-13)
---Movement expected to increase slightly with improved Russet carton demand
and the beginning of a new month for retailers. Trading fairly slow.  Prices
Russet baled lower, others generally unchanged.  U.S. One Russet Norkotah
baled 5 10-pound film bags non size A 2.50-3.00, 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.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 242-267-242---Movement expected to remain
about the same.  Trading carton 40-70s moderate, others slow.  Prices baled
and 90 count slightly lower, carton 50-70s higher, others generally unchanged.
U.S. One Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film bags non-size A 2.75, size A
mostly 3.00-3.25, 5-9 ounce 4.00-4.75, 50 pound cartons 50-70s mostly
7.25-8.25, 80s 6.00-6.75, 90s 4.25-5.25, 100s mostly 4.00-4.25.  Prices for
carton 50-70s expected to continue to increase as prices are nearly 5.00 per
carton under Idaho Burbank prices.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All
Washington Districts 167-144-206 (includes export 31-26-32)---Shipments
Umatilla Basin, OR 24-24-26 (includes export 2-3-3)---Movement expected about
the same. Trading Carton counts fairly active, others 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 2.00-2.50,
10 5-pound filmbags non Size A 3.00-3.50, 50 pound cartons 40s 6.00-7.00,
50s mostly 7.00, 60s 8.00, 70s mostly 8.00, 80s mostly 7.00, 90s 5.50-6.00,
100s mostly 5.00. Quality generally good.
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement expected about
the same. Trading Round Red size A fairly slow, others moderate. Prices generally
unchanged. U.S. One 50 pound carton Round Red Size A 8.00-9.00, Size B 14.00,
One inch minimum 30.00. Yukon Gold Size A 12.00-13.00, Size B mostly 7.00-8.00,
One inch minimum 30.00. Quality generally good.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 89-103-148---Movement expected to increase on Round
White, remain about the same on Round Red. Trading 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 (fairly light supply) U.S. One 50 pound
sacks size A 20.30. Quality Good.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 95-95*-88---Movement expected about the
same.  Trading slow.  Prices generally 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.  *revised
   RED RIVER VALLEY(MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 90-80-78--- Movement
expected to increase slightly as shippers fill St. Patrick's Day holiday orders.
Trading size A moderate, size B 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 6.50-7.00, baled 5 10-pound film bag size A mostly
4.25-4.50.  Yellow type demand has increased significantly this season due to
popular diet plans. Red River Valley shippers are bringing in Yellow type supplies
from Canada to supplement the needs of their customers.
   KERN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA---Winter Crop Shipments 65-49-43---Movement expected
to decrease as the season winds down.  Trading moderate.  Unofficial prices
for Monday, March 6th  are 50 pound cartons U.S. One Round Red size A 6.00-7.00,
size B 12.00-14.00, Long White size A 20.00-22.00, size B 10.00. LAST REPORT
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 39-34-38---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.
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments
36-45-33---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.
Most sheds running partial schedules.
   LONG ISLAND NEW YORK---Shipments 19-20-21(includes export 4-5-4)---
Movement expected to decrease slightly.  Trading very slow.  Prices  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.
   NEW BRUNSWICK(CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 26-28-*---
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
4.00-4.50, 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 active.  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:  with dirt, rot and serious
green tare 1 7/8 inch minimum 4.75, with dirt, rot and green tare, plus a
storage rate and shrink bonus 3.50.  The Amsterdam April potato futures contract
were up to $10.13 per cwt on March 8th.  News reports this past week indicate
a major quick-service chain will begin downsizing the portion of a French fry
order on their menu.   News reports also indicated  a Hermiston, Oregon,
potato processing plant will be closed in the next nine months.  Idaho 2004
crop French fry contracts negotiations are continuing but are expected to
conclude this week.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 183-180*-196---Movement expected about the
same. Trading slow.  Prices slightly lower.  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 1 7/8 inch
minimum mostly 2.50-2.75.  *revised
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 24-39*-33---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 28-39-34---Movement expected to
decrease slightly.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.
Too few open market sales to establish a market.    *revised
   PENNSYLVANIA---Shipments to Chippers 17-18-17---Movement expected to
decrease.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few
open market sales to establish a market.
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   MAINE---Shipments 48-64-*---Movement expected about the same.
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 28
are 446,531 cwt compared to the previous season to date total of 482,531
cwt. Truck shortage delaying some shipments.  *unavailable

---

STAT News Service

The subscriber version of the article is available by Clicking here