November/December 2019 - 11

Bob Irving was a big proponent of building ponds to collect irrigation
water. That's been key for the operation in recent years with a stretch
of dry summers. Photo: Zeke Jennings
customers - whether foodservice
or retailers - to encourage that the
branding be displayed prominently.
" The Caribou russet has really
opened up marketing to the foodservice
industry, " Robbie Irving said. " We
mostly sell to the commercial grocery
stores, but now we're starting to get
into foodservice. It's a winner.
" They're using it for french fries (and)
baked potatoes. We're selling 80 counts
mostly (to foodservice). We've had great
reception and feedback. "
The
farming
portion
of
the
operation, led by Robbie and Scott
Irving - another uncle - grew
Caribous on nearly half of the 920 acres
they grew spuds in 2019. They also
grow reds and yellows for tablestock
and Burbanks for the processing
market. McCain Foods and Penobscot
McCrum have processing plants in
Aroostook County.
" We grow Superiors for the early
white market, as well as a late
variety which is a Harley Blackwell, "
Robbie said. " We're growing Dark
Red Norlands and Keuka Golds for the
red and yellow markets. For the other
table russets, we're growing Norkotahs
and Goldrush.
" We're trying to hit all the markets. "
Irving Farms' fresh-processing ratio
is 80-20, with the majority going to
the fresh market. Their acres grow
Irving Farms owns nine center pivots, seven of which were in operation
in 2019. The Irvings upgraded to an automated irrigation system in 2018
which allows for remote monitoring and control. Photo: Zeke Jennings
" My grandfather (Bob Irving) built pond after
pond after pond. "
- Robbie Irving, co-owner, Irving Farms
potatoes every third year, typically,
with rotational crops including winter
rye, oats, barley and a clover mix.
Also, they collaborate with Smith
Farms on acreage that includes a
broccoli rotation.
MEETING CHALLENGES
Aroostook County, home to farms
aplenty, accounts for nearly 22% of
Maine's land acreage, but just 5% of the
state's population. Like farmers in many
rural regions of the U.S. can relate to,
finding enough manpower during peak
seasons, like harvest and the winter
packing, is a struggle.
" Labor, " Robbie Irving said without
hesitation when asked about the farm's
biggest challenge. He said automation
in packing is something they're eyeing
to alleviate the problem.
" We need to get up to speed on
automation, " Irving said. " I was
fortunate enough to be part of the PILI
(Potato Industry Leadership Institute)
in 2015 and went out to Washington
to see some of the operations there.
Like Easterday Farms, their level of
automation was amazing. "
One area Irving Farms is ahead of
the curve is irrigation. Robbie spoke of
changing weather patterns in the region
in recent years, which have resulted
in extremely dry summer months.
Fortunately for Irving Farms, there is an
infrastructure in place from when Bob
Irving ran the operation.
" My grandfather built pond after
pond after pond, " Robbie said.
The need for irrigation water
continues to grow, however. Although
there are numerous manmade ponds
on the Irvings' property, they added
another in 2019 - their first since
2004. They also have access to a 115-acre
lake - fittingly called Caribou Lake.
Access to water is necessary, but
so is getting it to the fields, and that's
where the Irvings have made significant
upgrades in recent years. They include
underground piping, which alleviates
the need to " lay pipe every day all
summer, " as well as an automated
irrigation system that allows pumps to
Spudman * November/December 2019
9
November/December 2019

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