O.C. Schulz enjoys good potato movement
O.C. Schulz enjoys good potato movement
Red River Valley red potato shipper O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., is ahead of its shipping volume of a year ago, according to David Moquist, secretary-treasurer for the firm in Crystal, ND.
“We have had excellent demand. I can’t complain but a little more money would make the plusses and minuses work out a little better.”
David and Andrew Moquist of O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc. in Crystal, ND.
Moquist said that, overall, the Red River Valley red potato crop “looks really nice except for growth cracks,” which are reducing the pack out percentage. This ultimate decrease in fresh market yield per acre, combined with low prices “will make farming a little skinny” at least for the early part of this winter.
Moquist suggested that potato prices are a matter of industry psychology as much as real economics. But, either way, he expects a decrease in red potato supplies early in the new year. Florida has lost a red potato grower or two, he has heard.
“With that going on and our extra shrink I think there is room for the market to go up more than last year.” Moquist’s outlook for potato marketing in coming weeks is “optimistic but realistic, as well. This is kind of a high risk, low reward sort of business.”
Moquist reiterated, “We would certainly like a stronger price, if it was available to us. As farmers, we would never turn that down.”