Time for a new side dish? Potato shortage could mean higher prices at stores, restaurants

Don't be surprised if the price of your next order of french fries is a little higher.

Unseasonably warm weather across the country has contributed to a decline in potato production, and local consumers may soon be feeling the effects of it.

Monroe produce wholesaler Robertson Produce announced in a Facebook post on Sunday they are anticipating their most challenging potato supply week that they have seen thus far.

"The few remaining Idaho supplies will finish out their final storages at the end of the week, or early next week," the post reads. "There will be a true gap in supply around the middle of next week for a least one to two weeks. While there will be a few growers that start into their new crop Norkotahs toward the end of next week, we are not anticipating volume will be strong enough to slow down the climbing prices."

Potatoes are grown commercially in as many as 30 states, however, Idaho remains the largest producer followed by Washington.

The current weather-related shortage comes in addition to a recent downward trend in potato production. According to the USDA, the country's production fell on a year-to-year basis in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, potato production in the United States was 7% lower than the average production in the preceding five years.

Robertson Produce President Dan Robertson said Idaho farmers failed to yield a large crop in 2021, mainly due to a scarcity of water.

"It's just so dry out west," Robertson said. "A lot of water shortages and then here we are, at the end of the crop, right before what's called 'new crops' start and they've run out of potatoes. We've never seen it like this. It's been like this for about two, three weeks."

Robertson Produce is a major distributor of Russet potatoes, distributing to restaurants, schools, nursing homes, hospitals and groceries stories in Northeast Louisiana.

The lack of supply has led to an average increase in Russet and baker's potato prices of 35% from their normal levels, according to Hospital Innovations. Potato prices have become secondary to supply as the supply gaps have made it harder to get potatoes.

With harvesting expected to start on Thursday, followed by a four- to five-day delivery, Robertson said the shortage is expected to continue for another two weeks.

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Potato shortage could mean higher prices at stores, restaurants