Idaho Growers Weather the Storm
By Bill Scott and Jake Putnam
Blackfoot--Jerry Wright of the United Growers of Idaho says hurricane Ike has affected the norkota fresh pack market in the South in many ways. "First is the fourth largest natural disaster in US history," And if that's not enough, "Ike which hit Houston is the fourth largest American city thats a lot of our fresh pack market."
What did you see in those southern markets after the storm?
“Two weeks ago we were over 33 dollars for the weighted average price for selling all of the saleable potatoes out of a hundred pounds. That price has dropped to about 29.50. We’ve come down three dollars and fifty cents or about seven dollars per hundredweight.”
Whats the impact of huricane Ike, and how long?
“It's effectively impacted those markets. Those markets historically take a lot of this large size carton business for food service out of Idaho.”
Add to that the larger size Norkota crop being harvested and you have an oversupply in the potato pipeline. Wright says this is a temporary problem and should be corrected within two to four weeks.
What's the message to growers?
"The message for growers is go to storage. There’s no sense in crashing the market just because we’re in a hurry to rush these things out of the field to the marketplace.” Wright expects to see prices stabilize in the 18 dollar range for cartons long term with consumer bag prices somewhere in the twelve dollar range.
Blackfoot--Jerry Wright of the United Growers of Idaho says hurricane Ike has affected the norkota fresh pack market in the South in many ways. "First is the fourth largest natural disaster in US history," And if that's not enough, "Ike which hit Houston is the fourth largest American city thats a lot of our fresh pack market."
What did you see in those southern markets after the storm?
“Two weeks ago we were over 33 dollars for the weighted average price for selling all of the saleable potatoes out of a hundred pounds. That price has dropped to about 29.50. We’ve come down three dollars and fifty cents or about seven dollars per hundredweight.”
Whats the impact of huricane Ike, and how long?
“It's effectively impacted those markets. Those markets historically take a lot of this large size carton business for food service out of Idaho.”
Add to that the larger size Norkota crop being harvested and you have an oversupply in the potato pipeline. Wright says this is a temporary problem and should be corrected within two to four weeks.
What's the message to growers?
"The message for growers is go to storage. There’s no sense in crashing the market just because we’re in a hurry to rush these things out of the field to the marketplace.” Wright expects to see prices stabilize in the 18 dollar range for cartons long term with consumer bag prices somewhere in the twelve dollar range.
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