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The potato crown, Idaho versus Maine

potato head
Mr Potatohead. Stable Diffusion AI

I live in the State of Maine and architect for a company in Boise Idaho. The potato rivalry is old as the day is long and raises a valid question. Which potato is better?

In northern Maine, potatoes are the key attraction. Whoever has lived in Aroostook County shall attest to the enormous influence potatoes have on society. All over  the nation, potatoes are grown also, but Idaho is so particularly. Who has the best potato is the key question.

Potatoes have been grown in Aroostook County since Irish farmers planted them in the 1700s first. Maine s favorable weather made it suitable for the growth of potatoes. Since then, Maine’s Aroostook County has continued the custom of planting in May and harvesting in September. Maine produced more potatoes than any other American state in the middle of the 20th century. Maine ranks as the ninth-largest potato-producing state in the country currently. Those potatoes are produced in Aroostook County in 90% of cases.

When the Idaho Potato Commission was founded in 1937, Idaho’s potato crop had a yield of 135 cwt*, rendering it about $7 million in value, according to USDA  National Agricultural Statistics Service. Idaho production versus Maine production: Maine, which was worth more than $17 million at the time, had a higher yield of 171 cwt* from its 163, 000 harvested acres.

Idaho had the price premium. Compared to Maine, where potatoes cost 62 cents per cwt, the state’s potatoes were sold for approximately 40 cents.

In contrast to Maine, which harvested 50,500 acres at 320 cwt per acre, This year harvested 322,000 acres of potatoes with a yield of 405 cwt, or more than one-third of the US fall potato crop slightly.

This connection serves as a humorous lesson in the history of potatoes from 1937 when Idaho attempted to divert Maine’s attention after the governor of that state sent Maine potatoes to all state governors. In response, Idaho sent potatoes to Congressmen, journalists, and restaurants in Washington, DC.

The United States, along with China, India, the Russian Federation, and the Ukraine, ranks fifth in the global world in terms of potato production.

This outdated measurement, which is equivalent to 100 pounds or 100 weight(cwt), Since potatoes were harvested by staff pulling bushel baskets into the fields, it was customary to measure potatoes in bushels weights per acre actually.

“Pots from Maine are really good.” Emily Page, an UMPI freshman and a native of Maine, said, “I really like knowing that they have grown so near where I live.”

The constant state in the country that produces the most potatoes is Idaho. Each year, the constant state produces more than 60 million pounds of potatoes. Its potatoes are grown on an estimated 300,000 acres. Potatoes come to mind when people think of Idaho.

Idaho potatoes, in my opinion, are superior to all other types of potatoes. Madison Exferd, an Idaho UMP and native freshman, said that Idaho is proud of its reputation for potatoes.

baked pot
Baked Pot with sour cream

A few UMPI students participated in a taste test to test their knowledge of the potato debate. Both an Idaho and a Maine potato were sampled by the learning students. After eating, they chose the one they preferred. Two natives from Maine, two from Idaho, and two out-of-staters served as the taste testers. Four students selected the Idaho potatoes and two chose the Maine potatoes after the testing was finished. Both of the two Maine residents picked the potatoes.

The Mainers were aware that the potato was grown in Aroostook County, despite the known fact that more folks preferred Idaho as the best tasting. Additionally, the natives of Idaho picked their own potatoes. There does not seem to be a superior potato to the other. You can taste a little bit of your hometown in everything, regardless of where you are from or what they are known for.

This article was wordsmithed by Artificial Intelligence.

Referenced originals:

https://idahopotato.com/dr-potato/maine-vs-idaho-potatoes-in-production

https://wp.umpi.edu/utimes/2018/03/09/the-potato-debate-idaho-or-aroostook-county/