Potato processing use up 5% from last year

Potato stocks in the major potato-producing states totaled 265 million cwt as of Dec. 1, a 2% decrease from a year ago.

According to a recent report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, potatoes left in storage accounted for 64% of the 2021 crop production. Potato disappearance was 148 million cwt, down 1% from last year.

Processors have used 75.9 million cwt of potatoes thus far, which is a 5% increase from 2020.

Idaho

Stocks in Idaho totaled 92.5 million cwt as of Dec. 1. Disappearance was 39.6 million cwt. Processors have used 27.1 million cwt of the crop from Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon, which is down slightly from last year.

Washington

Washington potato stocks totaled 52.0 million cwt on Dec. 1. Disappearance to date totaled 41.3 million cwt. Processors have used 35.0 million cwt, up 10% from last year.