WA_FV158
MAY 13, 2008  
WASHINGTON, D.C.



UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, SHIPMENTS ARE FOR THE WEEKS ENDING 
APRIL 26, MAY 03, AND 10, 2008 IN THAT ORDER IN THOUSAND 
HUNDREDWEIGHT (CWT) (100,000 LBS) UNITS.  EXPECTED MOVEMENT IS 
FOR THE PERIOD MAY 11-24, 2008.  PRICES ARE FOR MONDAY, MAY 12, 
2008, COMPARED WITH MONDAY, MAY 05, 2008.  UNLESS OTHERWISE 
STATED SALES ARE F.O.B. SHIPPING POINT BASIS (INCLUDING DELIVERED 
SALES F.O.B. SHIPPING POINT BASIS) OR PORT OF ENTRY AND EXTRA 
SERVICES ARE INCLUDED.  PRICES REPRESENT OPEN (SPOT) MARKET 
SALES BY FIRST HANDLERS ON PRODUCT OF GENERALLY GOOD QUALITY AND 
CONDITION UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED AND MAY INCLUDE PROMOTIONAL 
ALLOWANCES OR OTHER INCENTIVES.  NO CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO 
AFTER-SALE ADJUSTMENTS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. BROKERAGE FEES 
PAID BY SHIPPER ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE REPORTED.



ONIONS AND POTATOES
---ONIONS, DRY
   UNITED STATES---Shipments (includes imports) 1022*-1035*-1018---
The top shipping areas for the week, in order, were Texas, Georgia,
California, Washington, and Idaho/Oregon.  Onions in 3-pound bags 
were featured in on-line ads at 1,089 retail stores with a weighted 
average of price 1.77 per bag, and sweet yellow onions were featured 
at 7,013 retail stores with a weighted average of .91 per pound.  
The Market News Service survey was for the week ending May 11.  
*revised.  
   LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY TEXAS---Shipments 416*-382*-397---Movement 
expected to decrease as some shippers finish for the season. Trading 
fairly slow.  Prices Yellow super colossal, colossal, medium and Red 
jumbo lower, others generally unchanged.  Yellow Grano 50 pound sacks 
super colossal mostly 6.00, colossal mostly 5.50, jumbo mostly 5.00, 
medium mostly 7.00.  White 50 pound sacks jumbo 14.00, medium 14.00.  
Red Globe type 25 pound sacks jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium mostly 6.00. 
*revised.
   SAN ANTONIO-WINTER GARDEN LAREDO, TEXAS---Shipments 67-85-89---
Movement expected to decrease as a few shippers finish for the season.  
Trading fairly slow.  Prices Yellow jumbo and medium lower, others 
generally unchanged.  Yellow Grano 50 pound sacks super colossal 
6.00-6.50, colossal 5.50-6.00, jumbo 5.00, medium mostly 7.00, White 
50 pound sacks jumbo and medium 12.00-14.00, Red 25 pound pound sacks 
jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium 5.00-6.00.
   VIDALIA DISTRICT GEORGIA---Shipments 151-161-144---Movement 
expected to remain about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices lower.  
Yellow Granex U.S. One 40 pound carton colossal 12.00, jumbo mostly 
11.00-12.00, medium mostly 10.00-11.00; Organic Yellow Granex 40 pound 
carton jumbo 24.00, medium 24.00.  Growers continue putting onions 
into storages.  
   IMPERIAL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 24-117-185---Movement 
expected to increase slightly.  Trading slow.  Prices Yellow super 
colossal, colossal and Red jumbo lower, others generally unchanged.  
Yellow Grano Type 50 pound sacks super colossal 6.00-6.50, colossal 
5.00-5.50, jumbo 4.00-4.50, medium 6.00-7.00, White 50 pound sacks 
jumbo 12.00-14.00, medium 12.00-14.00, Red Globe Type 25 pound sacks 
jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium 6.00.  Due to poor market conditions a few 
growers are disking their fields instead of incurring the cost of 
harvest and packing.   
   SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA---Shipments 0-0-1---Movement expected 
to increase slightly as more growers expect to start harvesting the Red 
Flat Type onions current week (May 11th). Trading moderate. Prices Red 
Flat Type 40 pound carton jumbo 16.00-18.00.
   SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO—--CROP UPDATE---Light shipments should start the 
week of May 25th as a few shippers expect to start mareketing the crop. 
The onion crop is behind due to cooler than normal temperatures that 
have been observed in the growing area.  Early reports on quality appear 
to be good and yields to be average to above average levels. According 
to National Agricultural Statistics Service planted acreage for 2008 in 
New Mexico is 5,500 acres which is down 13 percent from last season's 
total of 6,300 acres.
---POTATOES
   UNITED STATES---Shipments (not including imports)----1820-1887*-1918---
The top five shipping areas, in order, for the week were Idaho, Washington, 
Colorado, Florida, and Kern District, California. Nationally, diesel prices 
increased 18 cents per gallon last week, to 4.33 per gallon according to 
the Department of Energy survey.  Potato ads continued to fall at the nearly 
17,000 retail stores surveyed by the Market News Service, being featured in 
almost 20 percent fewer supermarket stores than two weeks ago. *revised.  
   UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO---Shipments 620-609-579---
Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading active.  Prices higher. 
Russet Burbank U.S. One baled 5 10-pound film bags non size A mostly 5.50, 
50 pound cartons 40-70s 13.00, 80s 12.00, 90s mostly 9.75-10.00, 100s 9.00-
9.50.  Most shippers indicate lower than normal packout percentages in 
current offerings available.  According to the weekly Crop Progress and 
Condition report from Idaho Agricultural Statistics Service, the State was 
58 percent planted, compared to 69 percent last year and 58 percent 5-Year 
average. Commercial-crop planting in Madison and Fremont counties is behind 
the last several years but in-line with longer-term history. 
   SAN LUIS VALLEY, COLORADO---Shipments 279-237-240---Movement expected to 
remain about the same.  Trading bulk slow, cartons active, others moderate.  
Prices cartons higher, others generally unchanged. Russet Norkotah U.S. One 
50-pound cartons 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum 40s mostly 10.00-10.50, 50s 
mostly 10.50-11.00, 60-70s mostly 12.00-12.50, 80s mostly 11.00-11.50, 90s 
mostly 9.50, 100s 9.00-9.50, baled 5 10-pound film bags non-size A 7.00, 
U.S. Commercial Bulk per cwt mostly 10.75.
   COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON AND UMATILLA BASIN OREGON---Shipments 
232-207-244 (includes exports 31-27-25)---Movement expected to remain about 
the same.  Trading cartons very active, baled moderate.  Prices generally 
unchanged.  Russet Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-pound film bags non size A 
mostly 5.50, 50 pound cartons 40s 9.00, 50s 11.00-12.00, 60-80s mostly 12.00, 
90s 9.50-10.00, 100s mostly 9.00. 
   FLORIDA---Shipments 171-145*-179---Movement expected to increase as more 
North Florida shippers start harvesting. Trading active. Prices lower. Round 
Red U.S. One tote bags approximately 2,000 pounds per cwt mostly 24.10, 
50-pound sacks size A mostly 12.55, size B mostly 16.55, Round White U.S. One 
50-pound sacks size A mostly 12.55, size B mostly 10.55-14.55.  Current ship-
ments are generally out of the Hastings area (North Florida).  *revised. 
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN---Shipments 136-126-127---Movement expected to remain 
about the same.  Trading cartons very active, baled moderate. Prices cartons 
higher, baled generally unchanged. Russet Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-pound 
film bags non size A 7.00-7.50, 50 pound cartons 40s 10.00-11.00, 50s mostly 
11.00-11.50, 60-70s mostly 11.50-12.00, 80s mostly 10.50-11.00, 90s mostly 
9.50-10.00, 100s mostly 9.50.  2008 CROP UPDATE: Planting still continues 
and a few growers are now hilling their fields as emergance begins.  
   AROOSTOOK COUNTY MAINE---Shipments 81-79*-59---Movement expected to 
continue seasonal decline.  Trading fairly slow.  Prices unchanged. Round 
White U.S. One washed baled 10 5-pound filmbags 2 inch minimum mostly 6.50-
7.50, 10 pound open window sacks loose 2 inch minimum mostly 1.20-1.30, 
Russet Burbank U.S. One washed baled 10 5-pound 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum 
mostly 6.50.  Market News reported the preliminary breakdown for week ending 
May 10th: Round white 54%, Russet 40%, Yellow 3% and Round Red 3%. 2008 Crop 
update:  Initial fieldwork and planting underway.  *revised.
   IMPERIAL VALLEY DISTRICT CALIFORNIA---Shipments 77-51-24---Movement 
expected to remain about the same.  Too few sales reported to establish a 
market.  Light shipments expected to continue for a time as quality of 
remaining stocks is excellent.  
   MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA (RED RIVER VALLEY)---Shipments 60-55-51---Movement 
expected to decrease slightly. Trading moderate. Prices size B higher, others
generally unchanged.  Round Red U.S. One tote bags approximately 2,000 pounds 
per cwt 14.50-15.00, 50-pound sacks size A mostly 8.00-8.25, size B mostly 
9.00. 
   NEBRASKA DISTRICT---Shipments 55-74*-85---Movement expected to remain 
about the same.  Too few sales reported to establish a market. *revised.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments 45-51-39---Movement expected to continue seasonal 
decline.  Trading slow.  Prices unchanged.  Russet Norkotah U.S.One size A 
10 pound film bags loose mostly 1.50-1.60.  Market News reported shipments 
for week ending May 10th as Russet 82% and Round white 18%. Light shipments 
expected through the month.  LAST REPORT.             
   NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA (Crossings through Maine Points)---Shipments
49-55-**---Movement expected about the same.  Trading active on cartons, 
others moderate.  Prices higher. Russet Norkotah U.S.One/Canada No.1 baled 
10 5-pound film bags 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum 7.00-8.00, 50 pound cartons 
60-80s 10.00-10.50, 90s 9.00-9.50, 100s 8.00-8.50, Russet tote bags 
approximately 2,000 pounds per cwt 2 inch or 4 ounce minimum mostly 10.50-
11.00.  2008 Crop update:  Initial fieldwork and planting underway. 
**unavailable.
   KLAMATH BASIN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON---Shipments 36-37*-38---
Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading moderate. Prices baled 
lower, cartons higher. Russet Norkotah baled 5 10-pound film bags non size A 
mostly 5.00-5.50, 50-pound cartons 50-80s 11.00-12.00, 90s mostly 9.50-11.00, 
100s mostly 8.50-10.00.  *revised.   
   KERN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA---Shipments 2-65*-151---Movement expected to 
increase sharply.  Trading fairly active.  Prices Round Red U.S. One 50 pound 
cartons size A 12.45, Long White U.S. One 50-pound sacks size A 12.45, Yellow 
Type U.S. One 50 pound cartons size A mostly 18.45.  *revised.
   ARIZONA---Shipments 7-34*-38---Movement of Round Red expected to increase 
as all growers are now harvesting.  Too few sales reported to establish a 
market.  *revised.
---POTATOES FOR PROCESSING
   IDAHO---Open-market trading by processors with growers was fairly slow.  
Open-market prices paid to growers for Russet Burbank (and a few Western 
Russets), storage-run, bulk, per cwt: French Fry Quality 5.50 with previously 
unreported purchases 5.00 for U.S. Two Processing Grade 1 5/8 inch minimum.  
Pink rots and other potato rots continue to affect a few storages.
   MICHIGAN---Shipments to Chippers 124-120*-112---Movement expected to 
decrease.  Most movement on pre-season contract.  Trading slow.  Too few 
open market sales to establish a market.  *revised.
   MAINE---Shipments to Chippers 113-108*-100---Movement expected to decrease 
slightly.  Most movement on pre-season contract.  Too few open market sales 
to establish a market.  *revised.
   WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK---Shipments to Chippers 28-17-15---Movement 
expected to continue seasonal decline as buyers shift to new crop supplies.  
Most movement on pre-season contract.  Too few open market sales to establish 
a market.       
---POTATOES FOR SEED
    IDAHO---Shipments 901-704-534---Total-to-date 5,658,000 cwt. Movement is 
16 percent behind the Same Date Last Season of 6,755,000 cwt. The Final Last 
Season was 7,233,000 cwt.
   MONTANA---Shipments 311-216-211---Total-to-date 2,476,000 cwt. To-date-last 
season 2,692,000 cwt. Final Last Season 2,758,000 cwt.  
   CENTRAL WISCONSIN--- Shipments 42-125-27---