United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Mar 16/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

MARCH 6 AND 13, 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS)
UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD MARCH 14-27, 2004.  PRICES ARE
FOR MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, MARCH 8, 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 308-242-254---Movement
expected to decrease as more shippers finish for the season.  Trading
Yellow medium and Red moderate, others active.  Prices Yellow and red medium
generally unchanged, others higher.  50 pound sacks U.S. One Yellow Spanish
Hybrid Super colossal mostly 16.00, colossal 11.00-12.00, jumbo 8.00-9.00,
medium two one-fourth inch minimum mostly 4.50-5.00, Red 25 pound sacks
large 9.50, medium 5.00-6.00.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 237-224-294 (includes export
64-55-77)---Movement expected to decrease slightly. Trading moderate. Prices
generally unchanged, except medium yellow lower. Yellow Hybrid 50 pound sacks
Jumbo mostly 7.00, Medium mostly 5.00. 25 pound sacks Red Jumbo 7.00-8.00,
Medium 4.00-5.00. White (last report) 50 pound sacks supplies insufficient to
establish a market. Most exports going to: Canada. A few shippers are expected
to finish packing their remaining inventory within seven days.
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Shipments 147-119-148---Movement
expected to remain about the same.  Some shipments will be delayed due to recent
rainfall.  If no additional moisture is received, movement is expected to
increase the following week.  Trading White fairly active, Red fairly slow.
Prices White higher, Red lower.  50 pound sacks White jumbo mostly 10.00,
medium mostly 8.00-10.00, repacker size mostly 10.00, Yellow 40 pound carton
jumbo too few sales to establish a market, Yellow 50 pound lb sacks jumbo,
medium and repacker size too few sales to establish a market, Red 25 pound
sacks jumbo 10.00-12.00, medium 7.00-8.00.  Shipments last week were
approximately 63% Yellow, 20% White and 16% Red.  Shipments of Yellow onions
were moving to fill prior contracts and there were insufficient supplies for
the open (spot) market to establish a market.
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 56-52-52---Movement expected to
remain about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices Red Globe type jumbo and
50 pound sacks lower, others unchanged. Yellow Globe type U.S. One 50 pound
sacks medium 5.50-6.00, 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 8.00-8.50, medium 4.00-4.50.
   ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK---Shipments 21-20-25---Movement expected to decrease
as more growers finish for the season. Trading slow for light supplies. 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
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.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 24-20-18---Movement expected decrease as more growers
finish for the season. 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.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 23-19-22---Movement expected to decrease
slightly and end in one to two weeks.  LAST REPORT.
   LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS---CROP UPDATE---Very light shipments were to
start the week of March 14 but due to heavy rains received over the prior
weekend there will be a delay at least until the weekend of March 20.  Most
shippers now anticipate not entering into the deal until the 1st of April.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 678-620-626---
Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading cartons active, others
fairly slow.  Prices on count cartons were unchanged to 50 cents higher per
carton compared to a week ago while baled were unchanged.  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 13.00, 80s mostly 10.00-10.50, 90s mostly 6.00,
100s mostly 5.00.  Fresh movement to date is over one-half million
hundred-weight (or 3 percent) behind last season from last year.  Potato stocks
are down 6 percent from last year on March 1 according to NASS, USDA.
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 398-388-391 (includes export 13-13-
unavailable)---Movement expected to increase slightly.  Trading moderate.
Prices Russet carton 40s and Yellow Type higher, 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 7.50-8.00, 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 7.00-9.00.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 267-242-258---Movement expected to remain about
the same.  Trading cartons moderate, others slow.  Prices cartons slightly
higher, others generally unchanged.  U.S. One Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound
film bags non-size A 2.75, size A 3.00-3.25, 5-9 ounce 4.00-4.75, 50 pound
cartons 50-70s mostly 7.50-8.25, 80s 6.00-6.75, 90s 4.50-5.50, 100s 4.00-4.50.
Fresh market shipments were 18 percent ahead of last year's pace.  As of March 1,
potato stocks (all uses), were 16 million hundred-weight and equal to last year.
Fresh market shipments will likely continue longer than last year due to better
packouts.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All Washington
Districts 144-206-208 (includes export 26-32-27)---Shipments Umatilla Basin,
OR 24-26-23(includes export 3-3-2)---Movement expected about the same. Trading
carton 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 40-60s 8.00, 70s mostly 8.00, 80s mostly 7.00,
90s 5.50-6.00, 100s mostly 5.00. Quality generally good.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 103-148-171---Movement expected to increase on
Round White, remain about the same on Round Red. Trading Round Red size A and
Round White size A active, fairly slow on others.  Prices Round White size A
lower, others generally unchanged. Round Red U.S. One 50 pound cartons
3/4-1 5/8" 30.30, U.S. One 50 pound sacks size A 6.30, size B 12.30; Round
White (supply fairly light) U.S. One 50 pound sacks size A 20.30.
Quality 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. A few sheds
have finished packing for the season. Several more anticipate finishing by
March 27.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 95-93*-94---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 3.50-4.00, 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 4.50-5.00, Russet Norkotah
2 inch minimum 4.00-4.50.  Truck shortages have delayed or forced cancellation
of some loads.  According to the March 1 potato stocks released by NASS-USDA,
holdings for Maine were 8.9 million hundredweight (cwt).  This is 11 percent
above last season (8.0 million cwt).   *revised
   RED RIVER VALLEY(MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 80-78-87--- Movement
expected to remain about the same.  Trading size A moderate, size B active.
Prices size A lower, others generally unchanged.  U.S. One Round Red 100
pound sack size A mostly 6.00, 50 pound sacks size B mostly 6.50-7.00, baled
5 10-pound film bag size A mostly 4.25.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 34-38-43---Movement expected about the same.  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 the March 1 potato stocks released by NASS-USDA,
the holdings for Michigan were 4.7 million hundredweight (cwt).  This is 4
per cent above last season (4.5 million cwt).
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments
45-33-34---Movement expected about the same. Trading cartons moderate,
others slow. Prices cartons slightly higher, others 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 7.00-9.00, 90s 7.00, 100s 6.00-6.50. Quality generally good. Most
packingsheds are running partial schedules.
   LONG ISLAND NEW YORK---Shipments 20-21-21 (includes export 4-5-*)---
Movement expected to decrease seasonally as supplies are fairly light and
in few hands.  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. According to the March 1 potato stocks
released by NASS-USDA, holdings for New York were 1.5 million hundredweight
(cwt).  This was 150 per cent above last season (.6 million cwt).
* not available due to disclosure.
   NEW BRUNSWICK(CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 28-17-*---
Movement expected about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices 70 count cartons
higher, others 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 70s 6.50-7.00,
80s 5.50-5.75, 90s 5.00-5.25, 100s 4.50-5.00.  According to the March 1 potato
stocks issued by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, holdings of 25.8 million
hundredweight (cwt) are up by 3 per cent from the previous season total of
25.1 million cwt.  Over all, the total Canadian holdings are up sharply by
23 per cent (60.1 million cwt compared to 48.9 million cwt).  *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:  1 5/8 inch minimum 4.75-6.00
some 3.25.  The Amsterdam April potato futures contract was up sharply to
$11.74 per cwt on March 15th.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 180-222*-212---Movement expected about the
same.  Trading slow.  Prices 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
2.00-2.50.  According to the March 1 potato stocks issued by NASS-USDA, holdings
are up by 4 percent over last season.  *revised
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 39-43*-37---Movement expected about the
same.  Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.  Too few
open market sales to establish a market.  The March 1 stocks issued by
USDA-NASS report holdings for Maine 11 percent above last season.  *revised
   NEW YORK---Shipments to Chippers 39-40*-38---Movement expected to decrease
slightly.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few
open market sales to establish a market. The March 1 potato stocks issued by
NASS-USDA report holdings for New York are up sharply by 150 percent over
last season.  *revised
   PENNSYLVANIA---Shipments to Chippers 18-17-17---Movement expected to
decrease seasonally.  Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season
contracts.  Too few open market sales to establish a market.  According to
NASS-USDA, the March 1 holdings of .7 million hundredweight (cwt) are up by
17 per cent from last season (.6 million cwt).
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   MAINE---Shipments 64-70-*---Movement expected about the same.
Trading slow.  Prices lower.  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 4.00-4.50, Reba and Norwis prompt delivery mostly 5.00-5.50,
Atlantic few prompt delivery 3.50.  Current shipments mostly to North
Carolina, Delaware and Virginia.  Primary varieties include Atlantic and
other chipping varieties and Superior for the table market.  Shipments
from the start of season through March 6 total 516,582 cwt compared to the
previous season to date total of 506,536 cwt. Truck shortages has
hampered deliveries.  *unavailable

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STAT News Service

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