According to the latest forecast from the North American Potato Market News (NAPMN), the final US crop for 2017 will be lower than in 2016. How much lower is that?
While the final main harvest in 2016 was set at 18,45 million tons, this season it is 900.000 tons less. Compared to the average of 2014 and 2015, the main harvest in 2017 is also approximately 500.000 tons lower.
A slightly smaller area and the somewhat disappointing hectare yield in more important cultivation areas are responsible for the smaller volume of main harvest potatoes compared to previous years.
Expectation will be fulfilled
The total US potato harvest, including early and mid-early potatoes, is expected to reach 19,3 million tons. That is 600.000 tons less than in 2016. It is also an average of 350.000 tons less than in the 2014 and 2015 harvest years.
The Canadian potato harvest, at 4,7 million tons, is virtually the same as that of 2016. It is also almost the same as that of 2014 and 2015. The total North American potato harvest for 2017 (America and Canada added together) will be 24 million tons, compared to 24,7 million in 2016 and an average of 24,3 million over the years 2014 and 2015.