This report provides information and data on the costs of growing, packing, and storing of potatoes produced by Washington growers for the fresh market. It is based on actual expenditures by growers and packers as reported to the authors.

The production costs cover expenses for the 2001 growing season. These costs include all expenses from seedbed preparation to harvest and transportation to storage orpacking shed. Since Washington growers produce several different varieties for the fresh market, two estimates are provided. One estimate is a weighted average of the costs provided by all participating growers. The other estimate is an average of those growers specializing in the production of the Norkotah variety. The Norkotah variety is currently the most common variety typically placed in storage for sale and shipment later in the marketing year. The actual quantity placed in storage each year is a function of harvest timing and market conditions at time of harvest.