Aroostook County, Maine
New England's potato country in the far north
Aroostook County in far northern Maine — locally known simply as 'The County' — produces the bulk of New England potatoes and represents the historic potato region of the eastern United States.
About aroostook
Aroostook County in far northern Maine — locally known simply as 'The County' — produces the bulk of New England potatoes and represents the historic potato region of the eastern United States. Production peaked in the early 20th century, when Maine led the country in potato output; the region has since been overtaken by Idaho and Washington in volume but remains a significant regional producer with deep cultural agricultural identity. Maine potatoes are grown in glacial-deposit soils, often slightly acidic loams, with cool summers and significant rainfall — producing potatoes with somewhat different character than the dry-climate Idaho russets, often slightly waxier and with thinner skins. Cultivars span russets, round whites, reds, Yukon Gold, and specialty varieties. The producer landscape skews to family farms (the County's farming community traces several generations through the same families), with cooperative marketing and storage infrastructure. The crop is harvested in fall and stored through winter for year-round shipping. Climate change has been gradually altering the growing season, with mixed effects — longer seasons but also greater pest pressure and weather variability.
Origin profile
Varieties from Aroostook County, Maine
3 varieties associated with this origin. Tap any variety for its full editorial profile.
Editorial notes
The Maine vs Idaho potato comparison is a regional debate that mostly turns on familiarity — New England cooks often prefer Maine potatoes for their slightly waxier character and thinner skins, particularly for boiled and salad applications. Idaho russets dominate the baking and frying volume. The two regions produce meaningfully different potatoes despite both being marketed primarily as 'russet' or 'white potatoes' at retail. Looking for Maine-origin potatoes is one of the more accessible regional sourcing moves available to eastern US consumers.