The Great Potato Bust of 1894
Farmers hold out for higher prices, only to watch the market collapse as California shipments flood in.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The potato market has gone to pieces. After high prices have been maintained for several weeks, during which time farmers have declined to move their stocks, there is a sudden decline of about $2 per ton. This is caused by large shipments from California and the fact that the large supply is beginning to move.
“The potato market has gone to pieces.”
Supply chain shocks are a perennial Seattle story. Just as late 19th-century farmers were blindsided by California competitors, modern regional producers still navigate the volatility of a market that is far more connected to global and national trends than local inventory levels.
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