Area Farmers Harvest Record Potato Crop

Washington and Idaho farmers produced a record fall potato crop, meaning greater income for those selling to french fry processors and lower prices to consumers buying fresh spuds at the supermarket, a federal agency said Wednesday.

The record crop can be attributed to an increase in harvested acreage and yields, the Washington Agricultural Statistics Service in Olympia reported.

Washington growers produced 4.51 million tons, breaking the previous record of 4.45 million tons set in 1994.

In Idaho, the nation’s No. 1 potato producer, farmers dug an estimated 7 million tons, beating the previous record in 1994 of 6.94 million tons.

Spuds bound for processors are getting $95 to $100 per ton, the Potato Growers of Washington said earlier this year. Processors paid about $88 per ton in 1995.

But the glut of new potatoes also means that those targeted for the fresh supermarket shelves may only fetch $75 per ton.

Washington farmers harvested 161,000 acres, digging 28 tons per acre, compared with 147,000 acres at 27.5 tons per acre in 1995.

Idaho farmers harvested 408,000 acres of potatoes, yielding 17.1 tons per acre, compared with 398,000 acres at 16.7 tons per acre in 1995.

, DataTimes