Potato supplies should be ample for the holidays and beyond in the US, despite bad weather in some growing regions and an overall dip in production, according to a report by The Packer.
“Overall supplies should be slightly below last year. However, we could see an increase in winter and spring production,” John Toaspern, chief marketing officer for Denver-based Potatoes USA told The Packer.
For the July 2017 to June 2018 crop, the volume of fresh potato sales at retail was down 2%, but all other categories, such as chips and frozen, were up. “We also believe that sales volume and value to the foodservice sector continued to grow during this marketing year,” he said.
Toaspern anticipates an increase in demand at foodservice, retail and from export markets, but he said, “Supplies may be such that some of this demand is not fully met.”
Seasonal weather patterns have not been favorable for many potato growers, particularly in Wisconsin, Michigan and a few other spots across the country, said Ralph Schwartz, vice president of sales for Potandon Produce, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
