United States Onion and Potato Market Trend Report

WASHINGTON - May 4/04 - SNS -- The latest weekly onion and potato market trend report was released by the USDA today.

24, AND MAY 1, 2004 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND HUNDRED WEIGHT (100,000 LBS)
UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS FOR THE PERIOD MAY 2-15, 2004.  PRICES
ARE FOR MONDAY, MAY 3, 2004 COMPARED WITH MONDAY, APRIL 26, 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
   LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS---Shipments 297-445-430---Movement expected
to decrease as shippers start to finish for the season.  Trading fairly slow.
Prices Yellow jumbo and Red slightly higher, White generally unchanged, others
lower.  Yellow Grano 50 pound sacks Super colossal mostly 8.00, colossal 7.00,
jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium mostly 7.00, repacker size mostly 7.00.  Grano
type 40 pound carton colossal 10.00-11.00, jumbo mostly 9.00.  White
50 pound sacks jumbo 10.00-12.00, medium mostly 10.00.  Red 25 pound sacks
jumbo mostly 7.00, medium mostly 5.00.  Rain was received over the weekend
of May 1 with up to one-half inch in some areas noted.  Due to the excessive
rain received throughout the shipping season, some acreage will not be
harvested due to poor quality.
   IMPERIAL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 1-85-286---Movement expected to
increase.  Trading moderate.  Prices lower.  Yellow Grano 50 pound sacks
colossal mostly 7.00, jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium mostly 7.00, repacker size
6.00-7.00.  Red 25 pound sacks jumbo mostly 7.00.  Few Yellow Granex type
being discounted from the Yellow Grano price with the unofficial price
Monday, May 3rd for jumbo 4.50 in 50 pound sacks.  Temperatures for the week
of May 2 are predicted to near-record highs, over 100 degrees.
   VIDALIA DISTRICT, GEORGIA---Shipments 118-169-153---Movement expected
to increase seasonally. Trading slow. Prices lower.  Yellow Granex type
U.S. One 40 pound cartons colossal mostly 11.00-12.00, jumbo mostly
10.00, medium mostly 8.00.
   SAN ANTONIO-WINTER GARDEN-LAREDO DISTRICT---Shipments 0-0-40---Movement
expected to increase as more shippers get started, most current shipments are
out of the Laredo area.  Trading fairly active.  Unofficial prices for Monday
3, Yellow Grano 50 pound sacks jumbo, medium and repacker size 7.00.  The
daily F.O.B. price report is expected to be issued by May 7.
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments 59-32-32---Supplies are very
light and in too few hands to establish a market. Expect very light
shipments to continue for about 10 more days. LAST REPORT.
   ARIZONA---CROP UPDATE---Light shipments will start the week of May 2.
An official F.O.B. report will not be released during the season due to
an insufficient number of shippers involved in the area.
   SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO---CROP UPDATE---Trade reports that mostly good
growing conditions were received during the growing season.  Harvest by
a few producers will begin the week of the May 16.  The majority will begin
over the following two weeks.
---POTATOES
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 627-602-580---
Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices
cartons 40-80s lower, others generally unchanged.  Russet Burbank U.S. One baled
5 10-pound mesh bags non-size A mostly 2.50, 50 pound cartons 40-50s mostly
11.00-12.00, 60s 12.00-12.50, 70s 12.00-13.00, 80s 10.00-11.00, 90s 6.50-7.00,
100s mostly 5.50.  Eighty-nine percent of shipments last week were Russet
Burbank according to the federal Marketing Order Committee.  With April
shipments at 2.74 million hundredweight, 13% below the 3-year average, many
marketers suspect the popularity of low carbohydrate diets is diminishing
demand.  U.S. fresh preliminary shipments in April were 19% below last year.
2004 Crop:  After snow the middle of last week, near record high temperatures
are expected the early part of the week with highs Monday, May 3rd into the 80's.
   SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO---Shipments 428-408*-368 *updated (includes exports
14-16-13)---Movement expected to remain about the same.  Trading fairly slow.
Prices Russet baled, carton 100s, and Round Red 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, 50 pound cartons 40-70s mostly 7.50,
80s mostly 7.00, 90s 5.00-6.00, 100s 4.50-5.00, 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 2.50-4.00, Yellow Type baled 10 5-pound film bags size A
mostly 7.00.
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 228-225-235---Movement expected to remain
about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices generally 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.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON & UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments All
Washington Districts 164-178-189 (includes export 22-28-29)---Shipments
Umatilla Basin, OR 27-24-33(includes export 2-4-3)---Movement expected
about the same. Trading slow. Prices bales and carton 40-50s lower,
others generally unchanged. Mostly Russet Norkotah US One 2 inch or 4 ounce
minimum. Baled 5 10-pound filmbags non Size A 2.00-2.25, 10 5-pound filmbags
non Size A 3.00-3.25, 50 pound cartons 40s 6.00-7.00, 50s 6.50-7.50,
60-70s 8.00-8.50, 80s mostly 7.00, 90s 5.50-6.00, 100s 4.50-5.00. Quality
generally good. According to the Washington Agricultural Statistics Service,
potatoes planted for week ending 01 May were 80%, compared to the 5 year
average of 79%. Potatoes emerged were 40%, compared to the 5 year average
of 31%.
   NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON---Shipments included above---Movement expected to
decrease. Trading slow. Prices Size A and one inch minimum slightly higher,
Size B generally unchanged. U.S. One 50 pound carton Round Red (supplies in
few hands) size A mostly 7.00, Size B 13.00-14.00, One inch minimum
27.00-30.00. Quality generally good.
   CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA---Shipments 171-185-172---Movement expected to
increase.  Trading fairly slow. Prices Round Red size B generally unchanged,
others lower.  Round Red U.S. One 50 pound cartons 3/4-1 5/8 inches 20.30,
U.S. One 50 pound sacks size A 8.30, size B 12.30; Round White U.S. One 50
pound sacks size A 6.30, size B 5.30.  Quality Good.
   RED RIVER VALLEY (MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA)---Shipments 89-72-68---Movement
expected to remain about the same.  Trading moderate.  Prices generally
unchanged.  U.S. One Round Red 100 pound sack size A mostly 6.00, 50 pound
sacks size B mostly 5.50-6.00, baled 5 10-pound film bag size A mostly 4.25.
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 84-76-63---Movement expected about
the same.  Trading slow.  Prices 2 inch Round White slightly higher,
others generally unchanged.  Round White U.S.One 10 pound open window
sacks loose 2 inch minimum mostly .65-.70, baled 10 5-pound filmbags
mostly 4.25-4.75, 2 1/4 inch minimum mostly 5.25-5.75, Russet Norkotah 2
inch minimum 4.00-4.50.  Wide range in price and condition.
   IMPERIAL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 59-48-54---Movement expected to
decrease and nearly end as the harvest moves to Kern County.  LAST REPORT.
   KERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 0-0-39---Movement expected to
increase as more shippers enter into the deal.  Trading fairly slow. Prices
U.S. One Round Red 50 pound cartons size A mostly 8.00, size B mostly 10.00,
Creamers 3/4 - 1 5/8 inches mostly 25.00.  U.S. One Long White 50 pound
cartons size A mostly 10.00, size B mostly 8.00, Creamers 3/4 - 1 5/8
inches 25.00-30.00.  U.S. One Yellow Type 50 pound cartons size A 14.00,
size B mostly 10.00, Creamers 3/4 - 1 5/8 inches 30.00.  Quality good.
   KLAMATH BASIN (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN OREGON)---Shipments
27-34-32---Movement expected about the same. Trading slow. Prices
generally unchanged. Mostly Russet Norkotah baled filmbags non-size A
5-10 pound 3.00, 10-5 pound 4.00, 50 pound cartons 40-50s 10.00,
60-70s 11.00, 80s 9.00, 90s mostly 7.50, 100s 6.00-6.50. Quality
generally good. Most sheds running partial schedules.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 32-29-28---Movement expected about the same.
Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Round White (supplies in few hands)
U.S. One size A 10-pound open window sacks loose mostly .75-.80,
Russet Norkotah and Goldrush 10 pound filmbags loose .70-.80.
Planting continues on the 2004 crop.
   CENTRAL ARIZONA---Shipments 0-0-unavailable---Movement expected to
increase as the maturity of crop improves and more shippers enter into
the deal. Trading fairly active.  Prices U.S. One Round Red 50 pound carton
size A mostly 10.25, size B mostly 12.25, Creamers 3/4 - 1 5/8 inches
mostly 28.25.  Quality good.  FIRST REPORT.
   NEW BRUNSWICK (CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS)---Shipments 21-48-*---
Movement expected to decrease.  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 6.50-7.00,
80s 5.75-6.50, 90 and 100s 5.00-5.50.  Most sheds are working part-time
due to poor marketing conditions. *unavailable
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was fairly active.
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:  4.00-6.00 with some
at contract price/terms.
   CENTRAL AND NORTH FLORIDA---Shipments to Chippers 192-203-214---Movement
expected to increase. Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.
Round White Atlantic 85% or Better U.S. One bulk per hundredweight 1 7/8 inch
minimum pre-season contract sales 7.50, open market sales too few to
establish a market.  Quality good.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 235-202-190---Movement expected
about the same.  Trading slow.  Prices generally unchanged.  Most
movement on pre-season contract.  Few open market sales of Round white
varieties 85% U.S. One or better of good chipping quality bulk 1 7/8
inch minimum per hundredweight 2.00-2.50.  Planting continues on the
2004 crop.
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 46-56*-53---Movement expected about the
same.  Trading slow.  Most movement on pre-season contract.  Too few
open market sales to establish a market.  *revised
---POTATOES FOR SEED
   IDAHO---Shipments 1092-1182-594---Total-to-date 5,008,000 cwt. Total-to-date
last season 5,828,000 cwt.  Final total last season 7,297,000 cwt.
   MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA---Shipments 83-144-394---Total-to-date 1,508,000 cwt.
Total-to-date last season 1,465,000 cwt.  Final total last season 2,001,000 cwt.
   MONTANA---Shipments 338-330-215---Total-to-date 2,041,000 cwt. Total-to-date
last season 2,089,000 cwt.  Final total last season 2,372,000 cwt.
   WISCONSIN---Shipments 81-72-97---Total-to-date 1,212,000 cwt. Total-to-date
last season 1,369,000 cwt.  Final total last season 1,439,000 cwt.
   COLORADO---Shipments 98-55-29---Total-to-date 1,002,000 cwt, total-to-date
last season 1,070,000 cwt.  Final total last season 1,163,000 cwt.
   MAINE---Shipments 89-85-*---Movement expected about the same.
Trading slow.  Too few sales to establish a market. Current shipments
mostly to New York and Pennsylvania.  Primary varieties include
Atlantic, Snowden, and other chipping varieties as well as Round white
Reba, Norwis, Superior, and Kennebec for the table market.  *unavailable

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