United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - Apr 6/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

27 AND APRIL 3, 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS)
UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 4-17, 2004.  PRICES ARE
FOR MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, MARCH 29, 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
   MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS---Shipments 145-384-298---Movement
expected to decrease as some growers finish for the season and the
receiving of rain in the area over the weekend of April 3.  Trading fairly slow.
Prices lower.  Yellow Grano type 40 pound carton colossal mostly 12.00,
jumbo 10.00-12.00, Yellow Grano type 50 pound sacks Super colossal 10.00-12.00,
colossal 7.00-8.00, jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium 6.00-7.00, repacker size mostly
6.00, White 50 pound sacks jumbo 10.00-12.00, medium 8.00-10.00, repacker size
6.00-8.00, Red 25 pound sacks jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium 5.00-6.00.  Shipments
last week were approximately 68% Yellow, 14% White and 18% Red.  Onions crossing
through South Texas the month of March were 2,512 400-hundredweight units which
was down 8% from last year but 19% above two years ago.
   LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS---Shipments 2-46-166---Movement expected to
increase slightly the current week and then increase additionally the following
week as more shippers enter into the deal and the area dries out from the recent
receiving of rainfall.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices Yellow Grano 50 pound sacks
Super  colossal mostly 12.00, colossal 7.00-8.00, jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium
6.00-7.00, repacker size mostly 6.00.  Grano type 40 pound carton colossal
mostly 12.00, jumbo 10.00-12.00.  Overall shipments for the U.S. (including
imports) during the month of March were up 24% over last year.  Heavy rains were
received over the weekend of April 3, anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of rainfall
were received.
   IDAHO AND MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON---Shipments 267-201-124---Movement expected
to decrease as few shippers remain in the deal, light shipments will continue
for the next couple of weeks.  On Monday April 5, there were too few sales to
establish a market.  Due to heavy pressure from new crop onions, some shippers
diverted remaining supplies to processors.  Shipments for the month of March
were 2,659 400-hundredweight units which was up 14% over last year.  LAST REPORT.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON---Shipments 245-182-97 (includes export 36-27-18)
---Movement expected to decrease slightly. Trading fairly slow. Prices lower.
Yellow Hybrid 50 pound sacks Jumbo 6.00-7.00, Medium 4.00-5.00. Most exports
going to: Canada.
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 73-88-72---Movement expected to
decrease slightly. Trading moderate. Prices 16 3-pound  2 1/4 inch minimum
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 minimum mostly
8.00-8.50, 2 inch minimum 6.50-7.00, 25 pound sacks Red Globe type jumbo
7.50-8.00, medium 4.00-4.50.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 15-13-12---Remaining supplies are very light and
in too few hands to establish a market. Expect very light shipments to
continue for about seven to ten more days. LAST REPORT.
   IMPERIAL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA---CROP UPDATE---The crop continues to develop
on schedule with a few onions scheduled to be clipped by April 10.  Harvest
is expected to start as early the following week, about 1-2 weeks ahead
of normal.
   VIDALIA DISTRICT, GEORGIA---Shipments 0-0-0---The initial harvest is
underway on a very light basis.  The first F.O.B. report is expected during
the week of April 11.  Growers are actively irrigating.  According to USDA NASS,
acreage has increased 2,300 acres from the previous season and totals 16,300
acres.  FIRST REPORT.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 612-684-646---
Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading cartons 80-100s very
active, others moderate.  Prices on carton 40-70s slightly higher for the week
but closed slightly lower on Monday, cartons 80-100s slightly higher, baled
unchanged.  Russet Burbank and few Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-lb mesh bags
non-size A mostly 2.50, 50 pound cartons 40-70s mostly 13.50-13.75, 80s mostly
10.75-11.00, 90s mostly 6.75-7.00, 100s 5.50-6.00.  Eighty percent of the
shipments last week were Russet Burbank according to the federal Marketing
Order Committee.  Shipments for the month of March were 2,917,000
hundredweight (cwt).  This was a 3% decrease from March 2003 shipments of
2,986,000 cwt.  2004 Crop Update:  Temperatures were 20-30 degrees higher than
normal statewide the week of March 28.  Precipitation is below normal so far
for this Spring.  Field preparations and planting continues to proceed ahead
of schedule.
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 392-411-435 (includes exports 15-16-
unavailable)---Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading moderate.
Prices Russet baled, Red and Yellow Type lower, others generally unchanged.
Russet Norkotah and some Russet Nugget U.S. One baled 5 10-pound film bags
non size A mostly 2.50-2.75, 50 pound cartons 40-70s mostly 7.50, 80s mostly
7.00, 90s 5.00-6.00, 100s 5.00-5.50, 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 2.75-4.00, Yellow Type baled 10 5-pound film bags size A
mostly 7.00.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 229-260-265---Movement expected to remain
about the same.  Trading very slow.  Prices cartons slightly lower, baled
unchanged.  U.S. One Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film bags non-size A
mostly 2.75, size A 3.00-3.50, 5-9 ounce 4.25-4.75, 50 pound cartons 50-70s
mostly 7.50-8.00, 80s mostly 6.00-6.50, 90s mostly 5.00-5.25, 100s mostly
4.00-4.25.  Shipments for March were 1,135,000 hundredweight (cwt).  This
was a 25% increase of March 2003 shipments of 901,000 cwt.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All
Washington Districts 218-188-190 (includes export 32-17-24)---Shipments
Umatilla Basin, OR 1-21-26(includes export 0-1-3)---Movement expected
about the same. Trading moderate. Prices Carton 40 and 100s 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 mostly 7.00, 50-60s
8.00, 70s mostly 8.00, 80s mostly 7.00, 90s 5.50-6.00, 100s 4.50-5.00.
Quality generally good.
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement
expected decrease slightly. Trading moderate. Prices slightly lower.
U.S. One 50 pound carton Round Red Size A mostly 8.00, Size B mostly 14.00,
One inch minimum 28.00-30.00. Quality generally good. Several sheds
anticipate finishing for the season by April 17.
   SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 192-145-151---Movement expected to increase.
Trading fairly slow.  Prices Round Red size A higher, Round White size A
lower, others generally unchanged.  Round Red U.S. One 50 pound cartons
3/4-1 5/8 inches 25.30, U.S. One 50 pound sacks size A 9.30, size B
10.30-12.30; Round White (supply fairly light) U.S. One 50 pound sacks
size A 16.30.  Quality good.
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 82-89-92---
Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices higher.
U.S. One Round Red 100 pound sack size A mostly 6.25, 50 pound sacks size B
mostly 6.25-6.50, baled 5 10-pound film bag size A mostly 4.50.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 106-99*-69---Movement expected to remain
about the same.  Trading moderate for light offerings of 2 1/4 inch Round
whites, others slow.  Prices 2 1/4 inch Round White higher, others
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
4.00-4.50, 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 5.50-6.50, Russet Norkotah 2 inch
minimum 4.00-4.50.  Wide range in price and condition.  Season-to-date
total through March of 2.1 million hundredweight (cwt) shows shipments
lag by 23 percent from last season (2.7 million cwt).  *revised
   IMPERIAL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 0-18-50---Movement expected to
increase.  Unofficial prices for Monday, April 5th, 50-pound cartons
U.S. One size A Long White 18.00, Yellow-flesh 16.00-18.00, Round Red
 8.00.  These potatoes are packed and shipped from Kern County, California.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 42-44-40---Movement expected about the same.
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.  Supplies of Round white supplies
in few hands.   From start of season through March 2004, approximately
100 more loads have been shipped from the 2002 season.  2004 Crop
update: Initial planting of the summer Onaway crop was underway late last
week in Bay County.
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments
29-35-29---Movement expected about the same. Trading moderate. Prices
carton 80-90s slightly higher, bales slightly lower, others generally
unchanged. Mostly Russet Norkotah baled filmbags non-size A 5-10 pound 3.00,
10-5 pound mostly 4.00, 50 pound cartons 40-50s mostly 10.00, 60-70s
mostly 11.00, 80s 9.00, 90s mostly 7.50, 100s 6.00-6.50. Quality
generally good. Most sheds running partial schedules.
   NEW BRUNSWICK(CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 36-22-*---
Movement expected about the same.  Trading cartons fairly slow, baled
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
70s mostly 6.75-7.00, 80s 5.75-6.50, 90 and 100s 5.00-5.50.
*unavailable
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was slow.
Open-market prices paid to growers for Russet Burbank bulk potatoes,
storage-run, per hundredweight (cwt), F.O.B. growers storage:  French-Fry
Quality 3.00 U.S. No. 2 Processes Grade 1 5/8 inch minimum.  U.S. Frozen
French exports for the September 2003-January 2004 period were 416 million
pounds while imports were 701 million pounds.  Dehydrated potato exports
were 57 million pounds while imports were 60 million pounds in the same
period.  January was the first month dehydrated exports exceeded imports
according to U.S. Department of Commerce data.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 239-252*-237---Movement expected
about the same.  Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.
Too few open market sales to establish a market.  Shipments to date are
down by nearly 6 per cent over the last two seasons.  *revised
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 44-48*-44---Movement expected about the
same.  Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.  Too few
open market sales to establish a market.  Season to date total is down
by 3 per cent from the 2002 crop and 9 per cent from the 2001 crop to
date.  *revised
   NEW YORK---Shipments to Chippers 39-32-23---Movement expected to
continue seasonal decline as more growers finish for the season.
Trading slow.  Most movement from pre-season contracts.   Too few open
market sales to establish a market.  Shipments to date of 1.69 million
hundredweight (cwt) have increased 3 per cent from the 2002 season of
1.64 million cwt.
   PENNSYLVANIA---Shipments to Chippers 14-9-7---Movement expected to
continue seasonal decline as many growers have finished for the season.
Most movement from pre-season contracts.  Too few open market sales to
quote.  LAST REPORT.
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   MAINE---Shipments 55-62-*---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 4.00-4.50, Reba prompt delivery 5.50-6.00,
Norwis prompt delivery  4.50-5.50.  Current shipments mostly to New York,
Delaware, and Pennsylvania.  Primary varieties include Atlantic and other
chipping varieties, Round White Superior, Reba and Norwis for the table
market.  Shipments from start of season through March 27 total 704,279
hundredweight (cwt) compared to the previous season to date total of
771,374 cwt., a decrease of 9 per cent.   *unavailable
   IDAHO---Shipments 258-437-858---Total-to-date 1,829,000 cwt.
Total-to-date last season 2,528,000 cwt.  Final total last season
7,297,000 cwt.
   MONTANA---Shipments 139-236-292---Total-to-date 818,000 cwt.
Total-to-date last season 984,000 cwt.  Final total last season 2,372,000 cwt.
   MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA---Shipments 48-79*-86 *updated---Total-to-date
791,000 cwt. Total-to-date last season 792,000 cwt.  Final total last season
2,001,000 cwt.
   WISCONSIN---Shipments 98-143-53---Total-to-date 762,000 cwt.
Total-to-date last season 934,000 cwt.  Final total last season 1,439,000 cwt.
   COLORADO---Shipments 105-137-34---Total-to-date 709,000 cwt, total-to-date
last season 658,000 cwt.  Final total last season 1,163,000 cwt.

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STAT News Service

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