Despite slower sales, red potatoes gain popularity
Potatoes are big business in the state of Maine with the 2014 harvest contributing over $153 million dollars to the state’s economy, according to the National Agricultural Statistical Services.
While 2015 was a slower year comparatively for Maine’s spud harvest, The Bangor Daily News reports that red potatoes saw an increase in volume of 0.4%, contributing to 23.3% of all fresh potato sales in the state.
While red potato varieties increased in popularity last year, the undisputed potato king of Maine continues to be the russet burbank, which made up over 39% of all 51,000 acres planted in the state last year.
The executive director of the Maine Potato Board, Don Flannery, told the BDN that he’s not surprised at the jump in popularity of red potatoes – with the Norland strand of red spud favored by growers in the state, accounting for 4.1% of the state’s 2015 potato crop.
“I have been hearing that for some time,” he said. “I am not sure why we are seeing this red potato trend, but I am really not surprised by it. We do not plant a lot of red potatoes in Maine. We plant a lot more fresh white. But there are a fair number, because Pineland Farms Naturally Potatoes in Mars Hill puts out a redskin mashed potato product.”
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