According to the latest market information provided by Canadian potato growers; plantings could hold steady this upcoming season, but all signs point to an increase in the US.

The USDA puts the spring potato crop at 25.83 million cwt which exceeds 2010 production by 1.01 million cwt or 4.1% (this would be the largest crop since 2004).

Discussion around the United if America table have indicated that US growers are also planning on putting more acres (approximately 30,000 acres of mostly russets) in the ground throughout the planting season to cover processing increases, but it is well known that not all of the supply will go to processing and some flex potatoes will end up on the fresh market.

Discussions around the United of Canada table point to a slight increase in acreage this upcoming planting season which reflects the current market situation. Processing seems to be increasing in the west and decreasing slightly in the east. The increase in processing acres will be offset by decreases in the fresh sector with a total acreage increase of approximately 1000 acres +/-