Overall Idaho potato volumes should be abundant and quality good for the Super Bowl, but bigger spuds will be at a premium.
“Quality and total volumes will be good, but cartons will be limited,” said Ryan Wahlen, sales manager of Aberdeen, Idaho-based Pleasant Valley Potatoes Inc.
Pleasant Valley and other shippers haven’t been able to rely on the typical differences among russet varieties this year to guarantee abundant supplies of big spuds, Wahlen said. “Typically Norkotahs have a larger size profile than Burbanks, but I’m not sure it’s true this year.”
As the season progresses, the problem with small sizing will increase, Wahlen said. The longer potatoes are in storage, he said, the more likely they are to shrink.
“The profile right now may be the largest of the season, unfortunately. Looking forward to summer, I’m very concerned.”
The silver lining, he said, is that smaller spuds tend to be more smooth and uniform.
“The larger ones are more misshapen.”
For potato grower-shippers, the Super Bowl dovetails nicely with Potato Lovers’ Month in February. The game falls on Feb. 1 this year.
Wahlen hopes to see big pushes on 8- and 10-pound bags in Potato Lovers’ Month.
“The price is such that the 10-pound bag is what 5-pound bags sold for in the past.”
Source: The Packer