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EAT A POTATO

The spud is Maine’s biggest agricultural product. Inland and hugging the Canadian border, Aroostook County, or The County, is Maine’s largest county and premier agricultural site. In the 1940s, Maine’s rich soil yielded the largest potato crop in the nation, dropping to eighth place by 1994.

Farming has dropped off in Maine over the years, but organic farming is now on the increase. In 2015, Maine had 517 organic farms, and one organic grower raises 26 varieties in every color potatoes come in. Despite the decrease from historic levels, Maine still harvests 63,000 acres of potatoes, with sales of around $540,000,000 annually.

HOW TO ENJOY MAINE SPUDS

Eat them

Some frozen French fries and potato chips made from Maine potatoes are produced in Maine (look for the blue State of Maine trademark!).

Or find a retailer selling some of the many-colored varieties of organic Maine potatoes and cook them up yourself. Enjoy them at one of Maine’s many farm-to-table restaurants.

Drink them

Less than 1 percent of the world’s vodka is made from potatoes these days. However,