Ayer Potato Co. named Champion Grower

    PRESQUE ISLE – Ayer Potato Co. of Caribou has been named the 2008-09 McCain Foods Champion Potato Grower for Aroostook County. Ayer Potato Co. is operated by father and son team, Arthur and Aaron Ayer.

Contributed photo
    Ayer Potato Co. of Caribou has been named the 2008-09 McCain Foods Champion Potato Grower for Aroostook County. Ayer Potato Co. is operated by father and son team, Arthur and Aaron Ayer. The McCain Top 10 Potato Growers were recognized at the annual McCain Grower Barbecue held at the Aroostook County Shriners Club in Presque Isle Aug. 25. Pictured are, front row, from left: McCain Champion Growers Aaron and Arthur Ayer. Back row: Easton Field Manager Bart Bradbury, Director of Agriculture Mark MacPhail, Easton Plant Manager Dave McKenney, Senior Field Rep Brianne O’Leary, Field Rep Brent Bradley, McCain Foods Limited Chairman Allison McCain and Easton Raw Product Scheduler Barry Wolverton.

    The McCain Top 10 Potato Growers were recognized at the annual McCain Grower Barbecue held at the Aroostook County Shriners Club in Presque Isle Aug. 25.
    Champion grower selection is based on the highest standing average of three delivery categories. The delivery categories include field direct, winter storage and refrigerated storage. For their winter storage deliveries, the Ayers delivered 99 percent first-place color along with 31 percent, 10 ounce.
    Arthur and Aaron were presented with a personal trophy and a cash award of $4,200. McCain Foods determines the Top 10 growers by monitoring the processing quality of potatoes delivered to its Easton plant. A sample from each load is tested for quality factors such as size, defect level, specific gravity and color. Delivery date is also assessed and a point value is assigned.
    In the category of field direct delivery, Duane Grass of Mars Hill claimed the top spot. Duane has been growing for McCain’s since 1994 and has also been significant to the McCain variety development program. Second place in this category went to Steve Bubar of Fort Fairfield. Third place was Peter Page of Limestone.
    The top grower for winter storage delivery went to Bill Parent of Hamlin. This is the second time Parent has received the McCain top grower award. Second place in this category was Robert Hallett of Caribou and third was Shawn St. Pierre and Dana Morrel of Limestone.
    In the refrigerated storage category, the top grower was Paul Lagerstrom of Presque Isle. Lagerstrom began growing potatoes for McCain’s with his father, John, in 1996. Second place went to Wayne and Wade Leavitt of Connor. Placing third in this category was Aroostook Valley Farms of Presque Isle, operated by brothers, Bruce and Brandon Roope.
    Each Top 10 Grower was honored with a cash award of $1,000 and was presented with an engraved plaque in recognition of their accomplishment.
    McCain Foods USA Agronomist Erica Fitzpatrick-Peabody was also honored for her work in completing the McCain Certified Agronomist Training Program and presented with a plaque recognizing her achievement.
    Growers chosen to participate in the SYSCO Sustainability Audit were presented with a certificate thanking them for their efforts. Growers that took part in the audit included: Landeen Farms and Moir Farms of New Sweden, Irving and Marr of Washburn and Porter Farms, LLC of Washburn.
    McCain personnel on hand to congratulate the Top 10 Growers were McCain Foods Limited Chairman Allison McCain, Managing Director of McCain Produce Steve McCain, Director of Agriculture for McCain Foods USA Mark MacPhail, Variety Development Director for McCain Foods Limited Gary Hawkins, Easton Plant Manager Dave McKenney and Field Department Manager Bart Bradbury.
    Also attending were Katelynn Hartt, 2009 Maine Potato Queen; Regan Buck, 2009 Junior Miss Potato Queen; and Taylor Hedrich, 2009 Little Miss Maine Potato Queen.
    Master of ceremonies for the evening was Field Department Manager Bart Bradbury.