Markon First Crop (MFC) Burbank Potatoes are available in Idaho; new crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes are shipping from Washington. As the industry transitions from storage to new crop potatoes, advanced orders and tight inventories are highly recommended.

Idaho

• MFC Burbanks are shipping from storage
• Supplies will wind down over the next two to three weeks
• Large storage crop supplies (40- to 70-count as well as 10-ounce No. 2s) remain tight; 80- and 90-count prices are rising due to strong demand
• Limited quantities of new crop Norkotahs are now shipping; small sizes will increase through August

Washington

• New crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes are now available
• Although stocks are snug, there is a good mixture of all sizes and grades on the market
• Prices are holding steady

Colorado

• Storage crop Norkotahs are extremely limited
• Expect low volume and sporadic availability through August, especially for large, 40- to 70-count supplies
• Markets remain active for all sizes and grades
• New crop supplies will enter the market in early September

Wisconsin

• The storage crop season has ended; suppliers are sourcing from other regions to fill mixer orders
• New crop stocks are expected to begin shipping the week of August 18
• Size will be dominated with 90-count and smaller potatoes; larger sizes will not become plentiful until late September/early October
• Prices are elevated

Quality

• Storage potato quality remains very good; air checks and pressure/shoulder bruising will be seen sporadically in remaining supplies (both Norkotahs and Burbanks) from all growing regions
  • Air checks are tiny, thumbnail-like cracks that are caused by stress due to abrupt temperature changes
  • Pressure/shoulder bruising (soft, external indents) results from constant contact with adjacent potatoes or the floor while raw product sits in storage piles

• Fresh-run quality is excellent; occasional skinning and excess moisture may be observed in fresh-run potatoes
  • Potatoes release moisture as they cool, which gives the potato a wet look, and can cause a light, white surface residue to develop that is easily brushed off
  • The white residue will dissipate as potatoes dry and does not pose any quality or food safety concerns
• New crop potatoes have not gone through the ‘sweat’ process yet; the ‘sweat’ process allows field heat to leave the potatoes (which causes the release of moisture), putting them in dormancy, which prevents sprouting from occurring during the early months of storage
• U.S. No. 2 production will be extremely limited
  • Fresh-run Norkotah quality is strong
  • No. 2 supplies will increase once potatoes are shipped out of storage

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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