The 13 largest potato shipping states in the U.S. had 67.4 million cwt. (per hundred weight) left in storage on June 1, up 6 pecent compared to the same time last year.
This is however, is 16 percent of the total 2018 production, the same percentage as the June 1, 2018, stocks remaining in storage from the 2017 harvest, according to the USDA’s monthly potato stocks report.
The 2018 production in the 13 states was also larger, at 420.1 million cwt., up from 2017 production of 406.8 million cwt.
Idaho, which leads overall shipments and potatoes in storage throughout the year, had 29 million cwt. in storage on June 1, which at 21 percent of the season’s production, is comparable to the 21 percent left at the same time in 2018, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service report.
The top states, their 2018 shipments, and remaining potatoes as of June 1, along with the same numbers from 2017, were:
- Idaho — 2018: 140.2 million cwt., 29 million cwt. (21 percent); 2017: 134.9 million cwt., 27 million cwt. (20 percent);
- Washington — 2018: 105.6 million cwt., 17 million cwt. (16 percent); 2017: 99.2 million cwt., 13 million cwt. (13 percent);
- Wisconsin — 2018: 28.4 million cwt., 4.6 million cwt. (16 percent); 2017: 29.8 million cwt., 5.5 million cwt. (18 percent);
- Oregon — 2018: 28.1 million cwt., 4.5 million cwt. (16 percent); 2017: 25.2 million cwt., 3.5 million cwt. (14 percent); and
- North Dakota — 2018: 23.4 million cwt., 2.8 million cwt. (12 percent); 2017: 24.4 million cwt., 4 million cwt. (16 percent).
Twin Falls, Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5400 to New York City.