As new potatoes come in, prices drop in Idaho

As of Aug. 26, shipments of russet norkotahs from Idaho’s Twin Falls-Burley District and Western Idaho were three times higher than normal, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, trading of larger russets size 40 to 70, is very slow.

“There seems to be a rush to the early market now because the harvest market the last few years has been stronger,” said Ryan Wahlen, salesman for L&M Cos., Raleigh, N.C., marketing for Pleasant Valley Potato Inc., Aberdeen.

Cartons of large potatoes from Washington and Oregon, the second-largest producing region in August, are also moving slowly.