Maine farmers harvest fewer potatoes after rainy growing season

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 28, 2023

Maine potato growers harvested about 70 million fewer pounds of potatoes than in 2022, likely caused by the state’s unusually wet weather. Nearly everywhere in Maine, rain damaged crops like hay and increased pest activity. Potato farmers faced having to leave some overly saturated potatoes behind. Potatoes have reigned for decades as Maine’s No. 1 food crop, with a value of $258 million last year. Though the numbers were smaller this year, producers still gathered the third biggest crop in the last five years.