Here’s a look at sweet potato shipments from the four leading states, plus potato shipments from Idaho and the Red River Valley.
Sweet Potato Shipments
Overall sweet potato shipments should be up significantly for the 2014-15 season, following an off season this past year.
North Carolina is the big volume state, although loadings are not particularly heavy yet cfor the early part of the season. Eastern North Carolina is only shipping about 250 truck loads per week at this point
In both Louisiana and Mississippi sweet potato volume remains light, but steady.
California sweet potato loadings originate out of the Atwater and Livingston areas. Volume is light, but steady.
North Carolina sweet potatoes – grossing about $2500 to Dallas.
Louisiana sweet potatoes – grossing about $1800 to Chicago.
Red River Valley Potato Shipments
Most spuds have been harvested in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota. Some growers are reporting the best quality they have seen in six years. The valley could ship up to 4.3 million hundredweight this season, which would be up about 8 percent compared to last year. The Red River Valley fresh crop is about 91 percent reds, 9 percent yellows and a few whites. There is a truck shortage.
RRV potatoes – grossing about $3000 to Dallas.
Idaho Potato Shipments
Volume remains pretty steady for Idaho potato shipments at about 1600 truck load equivalents each week. Truck supplies remain in short supply.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $4700 to Atlanta.