There are 52,393,000 cwt of potatoes in storage in Canada as of April 1, 2024, a 12.5% increase over April 2023, and well above the 5 year average. The majority of the stocks continue to be in the west, mainly in the processing sector. We can see that levels in Quebec and the Maritimes are well below April of last year and even below the 5 year average for Quebec and New Brunswick, much to do with the very rainy growing season and higher cull rates this marketing year. There are fewer concerns in the Fresh sector than there may have been post-harvest, with supply and demand well balanced and no real concerns about carryover into new crop, in fact inventory in reds is getting quite tight as it is south of the border. Stocks of potatoes for the processing sector are 24% higher than in April of last year and well above the 5 year average, however it is important to note the record production this yearwith increased acreage due to the previous two years of shortages in the sector in North America. This, combined with better yields, resulted in a much bigger pile to start the season. There does continue to be movement of processing potatoes from west to east to use up the surplus and balance out shortages in some of the eastern provinces, but all indications are that supplies will go long in the west.The seed sector saw a a big increase in movement in March and a decrease in overall stocks of5.6% when compared to April of last year. Overall stocks are higher than the 5 year average, but with higher stock levels of seed only in PEI and Ontario and well offset by reduced inventories in all other regions in Canada.
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