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Maine potato growers focus on drought resistant varieties
The Maine Potato Board has stated that the drought conditions from last year resulted in a potato crop yield that was down 20 percent state-wide.
Mike Hart, director of sales and marketing at Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg, said: “We are hopeful we’ll get a little more water than we did last year.” Maine Potato Board’s Don Flannery added that the industry is working to keep growing quality spuds. “We’ve had three dry years here in Maine as it relates to the potato industry… they were dry, drier and absolutely dry.”
Potato growers hopeful for a better weather year, but concerned about worker shortage and rising costs Hannah Yechivi
Following a year of low harvests and bad weather, Maine s potato farmers are turning to more resilient varieties
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It s growing time for Maine potato farmers throughout the state, and many are growing potato seeds now, hoping for a better season overall.
According to the Maine Potato Board, last year drought conditions resulted in a potato crop yield that was down 20 percent state-wide. We are hopeful we ll get a little more water than we did last year, said Mike Hart, director of sales and marketing at Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg.
coordinator. Photo courtesy
Exchange.
Though Maine is mostly known for its round whites, other varieties have found success and Maine Farmers Exchange looks to sell variety this season. “We have supplies of round whites, reds, yellows and Russets which are the four basic categories,” said Davis. “I anticipate good demand for all the varieties and sizes of potatoes from Maine right through to the first of the year.”
In the past few years, a new up-and-coming variety has been the Caribou Russet according to Davis. “It hasn’t been a gangbuster, but its big advantage is that it can be used for fries as well as a table stock potato,” he explained. “For Northeast production, Russet Burbanks don’t lend themselves to packaging because they will grow crooked, but a Caribou Russet grows well here. The Caribou Russet has opened the door for growers and marketers to have flexibility.”