Cavendish suspends operations in Presque Isle

Cavendish Farms has suspended its potato farming operations in Presque Isle, Maine, indefinitely due to market conditions.

Thirteen employees, three full-time, five full-time seasonal and five short-term seasonal, were laid off due to the closure.

Don Flannery, Maine Potato Board executive director, said that Cavendish will not be planting any potatoes in Maine this year.

I’m not sure how many acres they planted but I would say that it was in the range of 1,500 to 2,000 acres,” Flannery said.

Flannery said that the Cavendish farm will plant a grain rotation crop this year and could return the acres to potato production when market conditions are better.

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