EEUU: UMaine to Host Event on Specialty Potato Varieties

WALDO, Maine — University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting a presentation and roundtable discussion focused on the growing and marketing practices for specialty potato varieties from 4-6 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the UMaine Extension office, 922 Waterville Road.

The event will feature a presentation by Brett Johnson, UMaine Extension sustainable agriculture and farm business management educator, who will share best practices in the cultivation of specialty potato varieties. Following the presentation, there will be a roundtable discussion in which commercial specialty potato producers are encouraged to share their experiences in marketing these products. The information gathered during the discussion will contribute to UMaine’s ongoing potato variety trialing efforts.

Consumer interest and demand for fresh-market potato varieties with unique size, shape, color and taste profiles have been on the rise. The trend presents exciting market opportunities for specialty crop producers.

The event is free and will include light refreshments. Donations are welcome, but not required. To register, visit the event webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Billiejo Pendleton, billiejo.pendleton@maine.edu; 207.342.5971.

About University of Maine Cooperative Extension: As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.

About the University of Maine: The University of Maine, founded in Orono in 1865, is the state’s land grant, sea grant and space grant university, with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. UMaine is located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation. UMaine Machias is located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation. As Maine’s flagship public university, UMaine has a statewide mission of teaching, research and economic development, and community service. UMaine is the state’s public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution. It attracts students from all 50 states and 92 countries. UMaine currently enrolls 11,571 undergraduate and graduate students, and UMaine Machias enrolls 763 undergraduates. Our students have opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research with world-class scholars. UMaine offers 77 bachelor’s degrees and six undergraduate certificates, as well as more than 100 degree programs through which students can earn doctoral or master’s degrees, professional master’s degrees, and graduate certificates. UMaine Machias offers 18 associate and bachelor’s degrees, and 14 undergraduate certificates. The university promotes environmental stewardship, with substantial efforts campuswide to conserve energy, recycle and adhere to green building standards in new construction. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu and machias.edu.

–University of Maine Cooperative Extension