News

Great Lakes potato harvest less than ideal

Potato harvest in the Great Lakes is down to the last days, but for some growers, it never started.

“During the months of September and October here in Michigan, we continued to get just enough rain to really make it difficult for our growers to get in the field.”

Mike Wenkel with the Michigan Potato Industry Commission tells Brownfield continued delays in Michigan have been nothing compared to the thousands of acres in the central sands of Wisconsin that have had to be abandoned.  “They’ve had a devastating year.  I’ve heard as much as 18 inches of rain in a 36-hour period of time as well as significant freezes that have taken a lot of that crop out just completely.”

Wenkel says the Southern U.S. this year has also had chipping potato shortages because of weather and other issues which has made the market short in general.  “You may see a little extra discoloration in the bag of chips which is simply a result of additional sugars.”

He says some acres that were intended to go to storage in the Great Lakes have been processed right out of the field and more acres will need to be planted next season.

AUDIO: Interview with Mike Wenkel