The Eastern Canadian provinces continue to hold more potatoes (737,650 tons) than the Western (282,613 tons) as has been the trend in 2022, above three-year averages in all four reporting provinces (459,456 tons).

“However, the late planting season and delayed growth may give more time to deplete these additional stocks,” according to the latest United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC) report.

The additional 270,000 tons are “doable”, based on the experts’ estimates, given good demand, and both fryers and fresh packers are currently making arrangements to deliver later into the season. Figures are very close to the spring of 2020.

Canadian Potato Storage Holdings by Province As of June 2022 – Fresh

Some higher numbers for tablestock spuds in the Eastern Canadian provinces as has been the trend so far in 2022 (87% versus 74%). Much higher than average numbers in New Brunswick (163% or 57,457 tons in the 2021-2022 season vs. 15,037 tons for the three-years average) may include some processing potatoes switched over as contracts to ship out west were stopped. Most of these stocks are in Russets, yellows and reds have continued to ship and are being depleted. Good quality lots are in demand. Any bins with pressure bruises or other storage issues may not make it to the end.

Canadian Potato Storage Holdings by Province As of June 2022 – Processed

Processing spud stocks on June 1 are right on three-yr averages (741,104 tons vs. 737,446 tons), but geographically, a big part of the remaining supply is in Eastern Canada (484,501 tons). Remaining potatoes in refrigerated buildings will shift old crops much later and away from out-of-field deliveries for new crop.

“Fryers are determined to use what raw potatoes are available and chippers seem more confident they will use much of the remaining supply. Some plants in Western Canada will take some additional downtime in the wait for new crop arrival,” UPGC’s experts mentioned.

Canadian Potato Storage Holdings by Province As of June 2022 – Seed

With seed exports to all provinces blocked for PEI, their increase in seed is not unexpected. Most evident in seed holdings on June 1 is how heavy rains and flooding have delayed planting and therefore seed usage in Manitoba (2,622% or 5,080 tons in 2021-2022, versus 203 tons during the three years average beginning in 2018!).

Also a later spring in other provinces has held up seed inventories that would traditionally be gone by this time of year. Alberta, which had carried large seed inventories through the year seems to have been successful in moving that crop into the market (-44%). New Brunswick seed inventories appear high considering that planting was mostly wound down on June 1 (415% or 15,697 tons).