Ideal spring and summer growing conditions for Washington and Oregon potatoes set the table for early production, pushing up the likely start of the fresh deal to mid- or late July in many regions and creating potential for big volumes as the season goes on.
That’s a change from last year, when potatoes and tree fruits in the region both suffered from heat stress. But through the end of June, heat had not been much of a factor.
“It was normally in the 80s,” Tony Amstad, founder of Sherwood, Ore.-based Amstad Produce, said June 30. “You don’t get absolutely perfect growing weather every year. I’ve never seen better-looking vines. They’re just beautiful.”
He expected to start harvesting around July 25, about 10 days earlier than usual.
In growers’ eyes, beautiful vines imply a risk of oversupply as production ramps up in August and September.
“We’ll have at least the volume we had last year and probably a little more,” Amstad said. “That’s what I’m concerned about all over the country. The whole Northwest, including Idaho, has had ideal weather, and I’m thinking we’ll have a big crop of potatoes this fall if something doesn’t change in July or the first half of August. I see it coming.”
“Last year we had almost 30 days above 100 degrees, and so far this year we’ve hit 100 for two days,” said Steve Long, Quincy, Wash.-based sales manager for Progressive Produce, which markets potatoes for Jones Produce Inc. “Yields will be up but acres probably will be down. People are growing fewer Norkotahs this year. More fixed crops—wine grapes, apples, cherries—are going in.”
Progressive Produce expected to start fresh Norkotahs the week of July 18 and continue to mid- or late October.
Despite his concerns about oversupply, Amstad anticipated fewer fresh acres in the Columbia Basin.
Washington’s Skagit Valley, one of the later-starting potato regions in the Pacific Northwest, is likely to come out of the gate faster this year.
Cliff Corwin, sales manager for Mount Vernon, Wash.-based Skagit Valley’s Best Produce Inc., said in late June that harvesting could begin as early as Aug. 15. For the past few years, Labor Day has been a more typical kickoff. Skagit Valley’s Best Produce is hurrying to get its line ready for the early start.
“We’ve had some really nice weather, much better than last year,” Corwin said. “We’re expecting good quality because of that. For us, acres planted are virtually the same. The start date could be earlier depending on what happens with our individual items here.”
The company offers reds, yellows, whites, a few fingerlings and colored potato varieties, including purple.
Double-N Potatoes in Burlington, Wash., plans to start harvesting the first or second week of September.
“We’re on the west side,” said sales manager Myron Ayers. “Some on the south end of the county might go the last week of August, which is pretty typical for Skagit County.”
As June ended the volume outlook was yet to be determined.
Source: The Packer