The red potato market in the Red River Valley is at a 14-year low. The base price for #1 A-sized reds was at $15 per hundredweight or higher from September through February. In some cases, prices are now as low as $8 per hundredweight. A large red potato crop and a shortage of truck drivers has backed up supplies. Buxton, North Dakota-based NoKota Packers President Steve Tweten is not sure how long they can move potatoes into June. “It would depend on the shrinkage factor of the spuds we have left and the demand we can get from the market. The last few weeks are slower than we need them to be. With the amount of potatoes coming out of Florida, and the pricing they’re doing, we’ve been losing some customers.” Tweten says yellow potato prices are lower than what they would normally be and supplies are short. For russets, carton prices are increasing.
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