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Florida flooding could result in high potato prices

May 26, 2009, State College, Pa. – Reports of heavy rainfall in Florida may impact the price of potato products.

May 26, 2009, State College, Pa. – Reports of heavy rainfall in Florida may impact the price of potato products according to AccuWeather.com.

While most potatoes produced in the U.S. on an annual basis come from Idaho, North Dakota, Washington and Maine, one third of the winter/spring potato production in the country comes from Florida.

Of all the Florida counties, St. Johns, Putnam and Flagler produce the majority of the Florida potato crop from January through June. The same three counties were walloped by one to two feet of rain over the past week, which has left many potato fields flooded. The high water and subsequent rot is expected to result in losses of $45 million, according to officials.

The loss could translate to higher prices at the grocery store and restaurants in the coming weeks, until the summer crop takes hold.