November/December 2019 - 10

COVER STORY
The Caribou Crew
From left, Scott Irving, Robbie
Irving and Jeff Irving, stand
in front of a bevy of Caribou
russets following their 2019
harvest. Photo: Jessica
McNamara, Irving Farms
Irrigation advancements, Caribou russet help keep
Irving Farms at forefront of Maine potato industry
By Zeke Jennings
MANAGING EDITOR
T
8
he Irving family has been growing
potatoes in Aroostook County,
Maine, since the early part of
the 19th century. The Irvings are wellknown
for their quality spuds, but these
days they're becoming known for a
specific up-and-coming variety - the
Caribou russet.
Robbie Irving, a sixth-generation
member of the family to farm, shared an
example of that reputation gaining legs.
Spudman.com
" I was able to go to Potato Expo earlier
this year, and Colin Szawlowski (of
SWAZ Potato Farms in Massachusetts)
was introducing me to some guys, "
Irving said. " They said, 'Oh, you're the
Caribou guy.' "
Caribou, of course, is the name
of a small town in Maine not far
from the Canadian border, which
happens to be home base for Irving
Farms. It's also the name chosen for a
russet variety developed by University
of Maine potato breeding program
that's
fast gaining a reputation for
its consistent uniformity and strong
culinary qualities.
marketed
Caribou russets also have been
Maine-grown potatoes
as
both on packaging for retail and on
restaurant menus. Irving Farms, which
has its own marketing
division led
by Jeff Irving - Robbie's uncle - has
been at the forefront of that effort. The
operation, which also is a prominent
packer-shipper with 15 trucks in their
fleet, has " Caribou russet " or " Maine
Potatoes " imprinted on its packaging
and boxing. The team also works with

http://www.Spudman.com

November/December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2019

November/December 2019 - 1
November/December 2019 - 2
November/December 2019 - 3
November/December 2019 - 4
November/December 2019 - 5
November/December 2019 - 6
November/December 2019 - 7
November/December 2019 - 8
November/December 2019 - 9
November/December 2019 - 10
November/December 2019 - 11
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November/December 2019 - 38
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/spudman-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/september-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/july-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/may-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/september-october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/july-august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/may-june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/november-december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/september-october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/july-august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/may-june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/basf-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/SPUD/january-2019
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com