Maine potato growers see ‘pretty good’ year

Though potato fields yielded average amounts, the crop quality was better than last year, growers and industry representatives said Monday.

Don Flannery, executive director for the Presque Isle-based Maine Potato Board, said Monday afternoon that 2010 was a “pretty good” year for the industry with about 55,000 acres of spuds planted.

Growers saw significantly less rain in August, which is typically when most of the potato crop bulks up. Rain brought by Hurricane Earl in September watered the potatoes and gave them a boost at a crucial time, according to Flannery. There were no cases of late blight this year, according to industry officials, and pest activity was very low. By mid-October, 80 percent to 85 percent of the Aroostook County crop was out of the ground.

“We saw average yields, and I think it was in large part due to the exceptionally dry August,” Flannery said. “But quality is very important, and everybody seems to be very pleased with how the crop turned out.”

Growers are starting to ship their product right now, according to the executive director. Prices are holding steady and are up over last year in some cases, Flannery said Monday.

There are about 380 potato growers in Maine from Aroostook County to the western mountain region around Bethel and Fryeburg. The total impact of the potato industry on Maine’s economy is $540 million in sales, 6,100 jobs, more than $230 million in personal income, and more than $32 million in state and local taxes, according to Flannery.