Spud growers may benefit from Idaho abortion stand

BIDDEFORD — The state’s potato growers may be headed for boom times if women’s groups proceed with a threatened boycott of Idaho potatoes in response to Idaho’s move to restrict abortion.

“Do I dare say that Maine potatoes are the potatoes of choice?” asked Jane Fowler, spokeswoman for the Maine Potato Board.

If the restrictive Idaho legislation becomes law, the National Organization of Women has threatened a boycott of the western state’s spuds.

Such abstinence from Idaho’s potatoes would be good news for Maine’s growers, whose $130 million a year crop comes mostly from Aroostook County.

“This is the year of very short supply of potatoes,” Ms. Fowler said. “That means that every potato out there will be worth more.”

State Department of Agriculture spokesman Rodney S. McCormick agreed.

“It would seem to me that any boycott of Idaho potatoes would have to stimulate the value of the Maine product,” McCormick said. “It’s certainly a commodities market.”

Despite that, one York County potato farmer doesn’t like the idea of a boycott.

“I don’t think it’s right,” said Robert Chartier of Standish, who has grown potatoes for 45 years. “I don’t think they should use a food product because there’s something they don’t like. In the end, it will just cost the customers more.”

But Ms. Fowler is not worried that the boycott of Idaho potatoes could be perceived as a boycott of all spuds.

“My experience with women’s organizations is that they pay very close attention,” Ms. Fowler said. “I think those people will look closely when they buy. They’re very serious about this.”

McCormick also expressed his doubts about whether a potato boycott could hurt all potato growers.

“I feel about potatoes the way a lot of people feel about ice cream,” McCormick said. “I can do without a lot of things, but I can’t do without potatoes.”