Wisconsin potato shipments from the Central part of the Badger state remain steady for the most part, averaging about 500 truckloads per week.
Shipments are coming from potatoes harvested from about 63,500 acres, which up only slightly from the 2011 harvest.
Excellent quality and few rejections or claims are being reported from shipments. Fresh potatoes are accounting for 44 percent of the total crop, while frozen and fries make up 23.5 percent of the crop. Chip potatoes are making up 23 percent of the crop, while seed potatoesare accounting for 9.5 percent of the 2012 crop.
Wisconsin ships mostly russet potatoes although there are a significan amount of red potatoes, as well as yellow, gold and fingerlings. Truckers are even hauling some blue and purple potatoes, which seem to be gaining in popularity.
Wisconsin remain the nation’s third-largest potato producer and has the most shipments of any state east of the Mississippi River.
Shipments originate from Northern Wisconsin in the Rice Lake area, as well as from around Antigo and Stevens Point.
Wisconsin potatoes – grossing about $3200 to New York.