PRESQUE ISLE — Dana Morrell & Son Farms in Caribou has been named the 2012-13 McCain Foods Champion Potato Grower for Maine.
McCain’s Top 10 potato growers were recognized at the annual McCain Grower Barbecue held Aug. 22 at the Aroostook County Shiners’ Club in Presque Isle.
Champion grower selection is based on the highest standing quality of three delivery categories: field direct, winter storage and refrigerated storage. To attain the position of Grand Champion Grower, the Morrells delivered 98 percent first-place color, 1.088 specific gravity, 53 percent defect free, and only 2 percent culls.
Contributed photo
McCAIN’S TOP 10 — Potato growers were recognized at the annual McCain Grower Barbecue held Aug. 22 at the Aroostook County Shiners’ Club in Presque Isle. Pictured are, from left, front row: Arthur Ayer, Tom Good, Mike Lajoie, Scott Ayotte, Dana Morrell, Bub Morrell, Bill White, Matt White, Duane Grass and Kevin Grass. Back row: McCain Foods Director of Agriculture North America David Good, McCain Easton Plant Manager Dave McKenney, Randy Leavitt, Aaron Ayer, Larry Foster, Max Good, Steve Marr, Vice President of Agriculture for McCain North America Christine Wentworth, Rob Blackstone, McCain Foods Limited Chairman Allison McCain, Brianne O’Leary, Brent Bradley, Jim Clark, Barry Wolverton and Field Department Manager Bart Bradbury.
Dana Morrell Farms has been growing potatoes in Maine for close to 20 years. In 1996, after 11 years of growing red seed potatoes in Florida, the Morrell family moved back to Maine to continue farming seed and process potatoes. The farm has 300 acres of potatoes: 200 acres for McCain Foods and 100 acres of red potatoes for the Florida seed market. There are also 300 acres for rotational crops.
Dana Morrell Jr., “Bub” to those that know him, joined the farming operation two years ago. Bub stated that he has had an interest in farming from a very early age. According to Dana, Bub’s knowledge of technology has been a great asset to the operation. Dana Morrell & Son Farms takes great pride in their work and know that in order to be successful in the ever-changing marketplace, growing a quality product is key to staying competitive.
In her speech to the group, Christine Wentworth, vice president of agriculture for McCain North America, said that improving yields is also important for growers to remain competitive. She noted that potato yields in the Pacific Northwest are much higher than those in the East and urged Maine growers to narrow that gap. Wentworth also announced a new award will be given starting next year to the grower with the highest yields.
“We have to work together to improve our competitiveness,” she said. “We are all in this together. We have to satisfy our consumers and become stronger as an industry, and increasing yields is an important part of what needs to be done.”
In the category of field direct delivery, Duane Grass of Mars Hill claimed the top spot. Grass and his son, Kevin, have provided significant help to the McCain agronomy program over the past several years by planting and harvesting early stage variety trials for commercial evaluation. Second place in this category went to William Parent of Hamlin, and third place went to Lajoie Farms, of Cyr Plantation, which includes Mike, Phil and Bradley Lajoie.
Scott Ayotte of Hamlin was named top grower for winter storage delivery. For the 2012 crop, Ayotte and his son, Eric, delivered 95 percent first-place color, along with 1.088 specific gravity and 56 percent defect free. Second place in this category went to White Farms of Washburn which includes Bill, Matt and Brock White. Third place was awarded to Lloyd and Randy Leavitt of Limestone.
In the refrigerated storage category, top grower was awarded to Tom Good of Monticello. This is the eighth top grower award for Good, who recently welcomed his grandson, Max, to the operation. Second place in this category went to Arthur and Aaron Ayer of Caribou, and third place went to Steve Marr and Rob Blackstone of Washburn. Each Top Ten grower received a cash award of $1,000 and a plaque in recognition of their accomplishment.
In addition to the top grower awards, the first annual McCain Environmental Award was also presented. The Environmental Award is intended to acknowledge and highlight the outstanding environmental performance of contract growers. This award was presented to Scott and Eric Ayotte for their significant efforts at improving their land base.
McCain personnel on hand to congratulate the Top 10 growers included McCain Foods Limited Chairman Allison McCain, Director of Agriculture David Good, Director of Agronomy Leigh Morrow, Easton Plant Manager Dave McKenney and Field Department Manager Bart Bradbury.
The 2012 Potato Queens in attendance for the industry event included Maine Potato Queen Abagale Stewart, Teen Miss Potato Queen Gemimar Babin, Junior Miss Potato Queen Chloe Wheeler, Pre-Teen Potato Queen Janelle Tweedie, and Little Miss Maine Potato Queen Rene Lapointe.
