Guest Blogger: Patricia Sutherland

Spring is gardening season, and many of us cannot wait to prepare the soil, purchase seeds, and
transplants, and finally get our “crop” into a properly prepared site. That smell of fresh soil does
a gardener’s heart good!

But what about those among us who seriously plant more than a backyard garden bed – say,
thousands of acres of Maine potatoes in Aroostook (primarily) and some in central and southern
Maine. Now that requires seed. Ever wonder where potato seed comes from? And surely the
growers do not use those tiny “tomato-like” seeds found in the little green fruit on potato plants?

So where does Maine potato seed come from? Can you believe it…Masardis, Maine. Can you
find it on the map? Check out Route 11 in Aroostook. Put Masardis on your list of places to see
in Aroostook this summer!

Now for the story…

The Maine Seed Potato Board (MSPB) was established in 1945 to ensure an adequate supply of
foundation seed potatoes for the state’s commercial seed potato producers and ultimately for the
Maine potato industry.

In 1947, the MSPB purchased an isolated farm in Masardis, now known as the Porter Seed Farm,
enabling it to better control and manage the production and quality of foundation seed stock. To
support the production of nuclear and foundation seed, the facility is equipped with tissue culture
production, greenhouses and seed storages with climate control systems.

In 2009, the MSPB began producing minitubers in a new, state-of- the-art greenhouse using
hydroponics. By using hydroponics, the MSPB is able to produce high quality minitubers at very
competitive prices. The facility also allows the MSPB to increase the volume of seed and at a
much faster rate.

The Masardis site provides greenhouse grown tubers (minitubers) and foundation seed potatoes
to seed growers in Maine. About 20 percent of the Maine potato crop annually is produced by
growers who raise and sell certified seed to other growers with various end markets for their
potatoes, i.e. chips, tablestock, processing, seed.

The MSPB is positioned to provide growers in Maine as well as growers in other areas with
quality seed potatoes. This seed can be purchased as minitubers (MT), field grown for one year
(FY1) and field grown for two years (FY2).

Maine’s commercial seed producers sell certified seed potatoes not only to growers in Maine and
the nation, but internationally as well. More than 75 Maine potato varieties may be produced
annually by Maine certified seed growers.

So plan to come to Aroostook this summer, drive up Route 1, and marvel at the miles and miles
of potato fields. If you plan to come in mid- to late-July, you will be breathless at the beauty of

the potato fields in blossom, from white to pink and purple flowers. (And don’t forget to pick up
a couple bags of new potatoes at a roadside stand!)

You might want to plan your trip during the annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival. Celebrate
our agricultural heritage with us, July 14-22 in Fort Fairfield. There is something for everyone
with athletic events, live music, the HUGE parade on the 21st and a myriad of family-friendly
activities. See you this summer!