The Idaho potato challege will probably get worse before it gets better. Quality in storage is going downhill quickly. One of the largest shippers in the state told me today that they have lost enough raw product to create over 100,000 catons of finished product. They have lost two weeks of production and won’t have any real volume until after the Labor Day weekend. It is a case that quality didn’t hold up as you would normally expect. Depending on the shipper, there will be a gap of two weeks between the finish of old crop and the beginning of new crop.
Washington will start the week of 7/22 (probably towards the end of the week) but won’t have any real volume until about 7/28. While the crop looks good, the recent hot weather has created some concern but we won’t know until we actually get into the fields.
We expect to see prices start off at the current levels or higher on the new crop. Not having heavy volume in Idaho will make a difference as to where Washington starts out. We will keep you posted.
MAKE GARNAND MARKETING YOUR FIRST PRODUCE CALL!