The Idaho potato crop is moving to market ahead of schedule and continues to bring a good price, according to the Idaho Agriculture Statistics Service.
Nearly 30 percent of Idaho's crop - 28.8 million hundredweight - had reached the market by Dec. 1. That is up from last year's 27 million cwt and 10 million above the 1986 levels.Potato Growers of Idaho reports production in the key potato states of Maine, Colorado, California and Michigan was down from 10 percent to 40 percent.
Mel Anderson, executive director of the Idaho Potato Commission, said Idaho farmers were able to grow a quality crop, despite concern over the effects of this year's drought.
With yields down everywhere, Idaho's potato crop comprised 33.2 percent of the fall total nationwide on Dec. 1, the commission said.