Watch for the potato pile to come

While Statistics Canada reported 394,215 seeded acres of potatoes on July 18 with virtually no change from 2024 (down 0.1%), United Potato Growers of Canada general manager Victoria Stamper is warning about the pile of potatoes to come from the U.S. 

“With processing cuts coming so late in the season and no good alternative crops,  not everyone reacted in the same way,” says Stamper. “The state of Washington cut close to 15,000 acres and the state of Idaho planted more fresh varieties instead.”

2025 Idaho plantings are estimated at 313,000 acres, almost the same as 315,000 acres a year ago. The more salient point is that Idaho growers average 430 cwt/acre. 

“In a global context, there’s a lot of turbulence in the processing sector,” Stamper explains. “Two years ago, experts predicted growth of 3-5 per cent annually, but that has slowed. Now the expectation is for 1-1.5 per cent. French fries aren’t going anywhere – but who makes them, where and at what cost is changing quickly.”