The Maine potato harvest wrapped up in mid October and a bumper crop would have been made except for a dry period in August which reduced yields. Still, a 10 percent increase in volume over last year is predicted, which was a good crop.
The Maine Farmers Exchange (MFE) in Presque Isle, ME estimates Maine’s potato volume for the coming season at 18.5 million hundredweight, up about 10% from last year’s 16.8 hundredweight as a result of better weather during the growing season. Last season was a dry year.
In 2022-23, Maine growers produced 18.4 million hundredweight of potatoes.
MFE notes russets are the most popular, because they are preferred by some major processing plants. The caribou russet and norkotah russet are the most popular table varieties.
The Pine Tree State also produces round whites, reds, yellows and russets.
Cambridge Farms of Presque Isle also reports a good harvest without delays from rain or frosts.
The company completed harvest in mid October. It grows red, yellow, white and russet potatoes, but yellows and russets seem to be the most popular.
Cambridge is growing more russets and yellows, but fewer white potatoes. The operation has become a year around potato shippers by working with other growers in the U.S. and Canada.
Irving Farms of Caribou, ME reports great growing conditions and ships russet, red, white and yellow potatoes in consumer packs.
The company ships throughout the East Coast, but focuses on the Northeast because of the company’s proximity to those markets. The firm also ships some potatoes to the Midwest and Southeast.
Irving Farms will started shipping in early November for the Thanksgiving holiday. The heaviest shipping period will be two weeks before Thanksgiving.
Other than the holidays, potato loadings are consistent throughout the year.