Potato variety developed by UMaine gaining international interest, BDN reports
The Bangor Daily News reported the Caribou Russet, one of three new potato varieties released by the Maine Potato Board and University of Maine in the past two years, is gaining traction in the market. Maine Potato Board officials voted in January to allow the board’s executive staff to discuss an international licensing arrangement for the Caribou Russet with McCain Foods, the world’s largest producer of french fries, according to the article. The board and UMaine license the variety in the U.S. and Canada, but McCain Foods is interested in paying for the rights to license it in other countries, the article states. The Caribou Russet is a cross between a Silverton Russet and a Reeves Kingpin and was developed under UMaine professor Greg Porter, who leads the university’s potato breeding program in a partnership with the Maine Potato Board. Fresh Plaza also published the BDN article.