News and Stories
UPDATE: Idaho Potatoes
January 02, 2020
The effects of Idaho’s hard freeze event back in early October are beginning to be realized as growers attempt to salvage usable product from cellars. Markon First Crop (MFC) Burbank and Norkotah Potatoes are available from Idaho, but both varieties must be utilized to cover demand. Supplementing MFC Norkotah Potatoes from Washington will be necessary before April 2020.
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The majority of remaining Norkotah storage supplies are Number 1 grade
- Size is dominated by 60- to 90- count stocks
- Number 2 grade volume is low
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Most Burbank storage potatoes were still in the ground during the October’s freeze event
- Size is dominated by 70- to 100- count supplies
- Fewer Number 2 Burbanks are available; the majority of these stocks are unable to meet grade requirements and are instead being sent to processing or dehydrating companies
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Washington Norkotah markets are elevated
- Ideal growing conditions did produce a higher percentage of 40- to 70-count potatoes
- Markon expects potato markets to increase and remain consistently higher than the 2018-2019 season
The attached pictures show one cellar where Burbank potatoes are rapidly breaking down due to freeze damage.
Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.
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