US: Maine potato growers love what they do and they do it extremely well

Potatoes are the leading vegetable crop in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. The nationwide crop contributes about 15 percent of farm sales receipts for vegetables each year. Annually over 30 billion pound of potatoes are produced in the nation. Before potatoes can bear the red, white and blue State of Maine Quality Trademark – a guarantee that the contents of the potatoes are only the highest quality – they are inspected and pass requirements stricter than the USDA’s U.S. No. 1 grade. Technology and innovation have changed the way Maine growers plant, cultivate and harvest potatoes. And technology and innovation have changed the way they communicate. Smartphones, social media, websites, YouTube videos and more now provide innovative ways for them to communicate with one another, their customers and consumers. Potatoes have been grown in Maine for over 200 years. The advantage of having warm days, cool nights and productive soils make it a prime production region. More