MAPLETON — Despite the hard times in the state’s potato industry, a Mapleton farmer believes the industry has a viable future.
Named Young Farmer of the Year, Keith Doyen thinks potato farmers need to work toward quality and become familiar with their markets.
“The Maine round white potato is still a saleable item in the tablestock market,” said Doyen recently.
The 36-year-old potato grower was cited by the Maine Potato Board for his work with his father and two brothers under the name of Willard C. Doyen & Sons in Mapleton. The firm grows 900 to 950 acres annually of tablestock and seed potatoes.
As the industry’s young farmer award recipient, Doyen will represent the industry at the National Potato Council’s annual meeting in New Orleans in January. He will join Donald Fitzpatrick of Houlton, who was named Farmer of the Year by the MPB.
Both will be honored by the board during its meeting on Jan. 29.
Doyen said the industry must continue to move forward.
Maine harvested 77,000 acres of potatoes this year, down about 1,000 from 1995, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Efforts by the industry and state officials to boost Maine’s production and image in the marketplace were seen as good ideas. The Doyens have always had their produce inspected before it was trucked to market. Doyen also supported the board’s new plan to promote Maine’s produce this year.
“Anything that we can do to promote Maine potatoes is a great idea,” Doyen said.
Doyen believes the state must promote the positive aspects of the industry.
Farming has been a way of life for Doyen for all of his 36 years, as it has been for his brothers and his father. The potato operation was started in the 1940s by his grandfather on 10 acres in Mapleton.
“My father encouraged me and my brothers to farm,” Doyen said, adding that he would encourage his 8-year-old, Matthew, to continue the tradition.
Doyen has an associate’s degree from the University of Maine in resource and business management. He is most active in the business end of raising and selling potatoes.
The Doyen operation has built a solid foundation of growing and selling quality potatoes. Doyen beleives that its reputation of producing potatoes that will sell in the markets has contributed to the operation’s success.
Doyen said that more outlets are needed for Maine’s potatoes and the industry needs to explore other markets.
He agrees that the competition from Canadian potato producers hurts the Maine potato farmer.
Doyen is married to Beth Dorsey Doyen, formerly of Fort Fairfield. He credits his wife with supporting him in his farming endeavors.
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