2016-17 Crop Outlook

Salt Lake City, UT,  August 25, 2016 – United Potato Growers of America’s Supply-Demand Committee met this week in Salt Lake to discuss current crop conditions and production expectations from across North America for the 2016-17 fresh potato crop.  While there are still several weeks remaining in the growing season which could alter the current outlook, most key growing areas reported the crop ahead 1-2 weeks with slightly lower tuber set than last year.  Quality should be excellent.  Exceptions were the Red River Valley and parts of Central and east Canada which are expecting significant reductions in table potato production due to adverse growing conditions.

The current North American forecast as refined by the Committee reflects the most recent growing conditions from across the country, and forecasts total 2016-17 fresh potato shipments to be 98.6MM cwt, 93.6MM from the US and 5.0MM cwt expected imports from Canada.  That compares with actual shipments in 2015-16 of 100.6MM cwt.  The ‘16-‘17 fresh Russet crop is expected to be 71.9MM cwt, +.9% vs LY.  While the Red crop is expected to down 7.5% with shipments of 14.1MM cwt.  Yellows continue to gain ground +9.5% with expected shipments of 8.1MM cwt.

‘’These numbers suggest we have a very marketable crop coming, which is expected to be almost 2 million cwt shorter than last year’’ commented Cary Hoffman, Chairman of the committee.  ‘’The coming ‘16-‘17 crop appears today to be of better quality and more balanced than last years’’

Jerry Wright, CEO of United Potato Growers of America commented ‘’while pricing next season will certainly vary by production area based upon local supplies, overall this years balanced crop should mean above grower cost of production returns in many parts of the county, and that’s welcomed news.‘’