Maine-to-Idaho seed potato boost featured by Wall Street Journal

Maine seed potato growers are helping to fill needs in the Pacific Northwest, and it has been noticed by the Wall Street Journal.

In the article “Idaho needs potatoes, so Maine is chipping in,” published March 23, WSJ details how Maine is shipping seed to the Northwest, which experienced down yields in 2021 due to excessive heat. Maine, on the other hand, had an ideal growing season in 2021.

The story features insights from Maine Potato Board Executive Director Don Flannery, grower Jay LaJoie of LaJoie Growers LLC and University of Maine potato breeder Greg Porter.

“LaJoie Growers is also sending 2.4 million pounds of potato seed — not typical seeds, but tubers that are planted to grow new potatoes — to Idaho and Washington to McCain Foods USA, which makes frozen-spud products,” wrote author Jennifer Levitz.

Check out the full WSJ article here.

Top photo: From left, Lucas, Sky, Dominic, Jay, Williams and Gil LaJoie. Lucas, Dominic, Jay and Gil are currently parters of LaJoie Growers LLC. Sky is in line to become a fifth partner. Photo: LaJoie Growers