Pacific Northwest process potato buyers are said to be very nervous about this year's processing crop in Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Word is being spread of buyers out looking at open potatoes to fill in some of the processors' slots. This has resulted from a rougher and smaller crop of Shepodies. The Norkotah variety was also said to be smaller because of the unusually hot temperatures, which caused the crop to "go down" or stop growing much earlier than usual.
In addition, it is being circulated that some open Washington potatoes are destined for shipment to the processing plants in Alberta, Canada.
Not wanting to be quoted, an industry producer said Canada does not have a very good crop either, and may need to supplement their plants with U.S. potatoes. He says some of the newer plants in Canada have never run at full capacity.