Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Dick Wood, manager of Naturally Potatoes, a division of Basic American Foods in Mars Hill, said he’s pleased to be in Aroostook County and part of the Maine potato industry.
Wood was one of the guest speakers at last Thursday night’s Agricultural Bargaining Council’s annual dinner and meeting that was held at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center.
“Basic American Foods started as a privately held company in San Francisco back in 1933,” said Wood. “The founders created a process to dehydrate onions, and decided to hit the road to see if they could sell the product.”
Nearly 75 years later, the company has over 40 processes that are patented with six locations in the United States.
“We’re headquartered in Blackfoot, Idaho, and we have two other facilities in Idaho, as well as one in Washington, Wisconsin and Mars Hill,” said Wood, noting that the corporate office is located in Walnut Creek, Calif.
“We are committed to our customers, employees, the communities that we’re located in, our suppliers and shareholders,” he said. “We try to be the market leader by having the best product.”
In addition to a variety of value-added potato products, Basic American Foods also produces a line of dry edible beans, refried beans, chili products and the company’s newest venture, refrigerated products.
“Most of our products are sold under different specialty names,” said Wood.
BAF has had ownership of Naturally Potatoes for 16 months, and the company is presently developing new marketing strategies.
“We’ve made some improvements to the facility, and our employees have received additional training,” said Wood. “It’s been a lot of fun. We’re excited about the opportunity to be in Maine and the refrigerated business.”
During the ABC meeting, president Trevor Michaud said while the 2006 crop looked good, there was a surplus of potatoes needing a home.
“There’s not a lot of excess capacity to hold the extra potatoes,” said Michaud. “It’s nobody’s fault. We just need more processors and to grow less.”
ABC Executive Director Vernon Delong said the Council is looking at sending the extra potatoes “to the far West.”
“We’re trying to get these potatoes out of Maine, but for top dollar,” said Delong. “We’re looking at the possibility of having them sent out on a freight train, as well as maybe to Quebec. We’re doing what we can.”
Bruce Huffaker, publisher of North American Potato Market News, told the audience that this year’s market is very complex.
“Here in Maine, Mother Nature blessed you with a tremendous crop … probably more than you can use,” he said. “Out West, the picture is a whole lot different. Fry plants are running short of potatoes and there’s not enough to go around.
“You owe it to yourself to look at all of your opportunities,” said Huffaker. “You should match your production with your current agricultural practices. If you can extend your rotation crops, I’d do it. If you limit your production, it will improve the quality of future crops and you’ll get a good return for your dollar.”
Huffaker said that since potato production is going down but the demand is going up, it’s important for growers to “work together to manage acreage.”
“It’s important to look at your situation and understand what it is,” he said. “You can work together to make things happen. We have to avoid chronic surplus.”
Also addressing growers and dealers was Commissioner of Agriculture Seth “Brad” Bradstreet III, who told guests that “the best people in agriculture are from Aroostook County.”
“Potato growers, and all growers in Maine, don’t need to take a backseat to anybody,” he said. “We produce quality and we should be proud of that.”
Distinguished service awards were also handed out at the ABC meeting. Accepting plaques on behalf of their fathers were Keith Labrie, son of Dan Labrie of St. Agatha, and Bruce Lavertu, son of Roger Lavertu of Saint David. Also recognized at the dinner were Dan Turner of Easton, who was the first ABC president, and Fort Fairfield’s Jon Durepo, an outgoing director.
