Economic Development

Ellsworth American interviews Yarborough about Maine blueberry industry, retirement

The Ellsworth American spoke with David Yarborough, a wild blueberry specialist with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, for the article, “Market glut, low prices hurt Maine’s blueberry industry.” The per-pound price for Maine blueberries steadily dropped from 76 cents in 2012 to 60 cents in 2014 and 27 cents in 2016, according to Yarborough. In […]

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UMaine research cited in Press Herald report on Maine lobster haul decline

University of Maine research was cited in the Portland Press Herald article about Maine’s lobster industry seeing both its value and volume fall sharply in 2017. Landings declined 16 percent in 2017, and the boat value of the statewide catch fell 18.6 percent, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, which released its annual […]

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Hopkins speaks with BDN about start of Maine maple season

Kathy Hopkins, a maple syrup expert with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, spoke with the Bangor Daily News for an article about the start of Maine’s maple season. Traditionally, Maine maple season starts with a cold January and February, and producers tap their trees in mid-to-late February or early March, depending on where the sugar […]

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UMaine students compete in Big Gig pitch-off, WVII reports

WVII (Channel 7) reported several University of Maine students competed in a Big Gig pitch-off event in Brewer. The Big Gig is a network for innovators and entrepreneurs in the Bangor area that was started by a motivated group of municipalities, organizations and universities, including UMaine. The Big Gig competition allows local entrepreneurs to pitch […]

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UMaine-led group investing over $14 million in marine businesses, AP reports

The Associated Press reported a group led by the University of Maine is investing more than $14 million in businesses and infrastructure to try to grow marine jobs in the state. The Alliance for Maine’s Marine Economy, which is a consortium of businesses and institutions in the state, is investing $7 million in voter-approved bonds […]

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WABI visits UMaine’s sugar house as maple season gets underway

WABI (Channel 5) reported on the beginning of Maine’s maple season while visiting the University of Maine’s Thomas J. Corcoran Sugar House. Keith Kanoti, a forest manager at UMaine, said students, staff and faculty tap about 350 trees to make syrup every spring. The recent weather has been perfect for harvesting sap, WABI reported. “If […]

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UMaine Extension publications offer advice for maple syrup season

Maine Maple Sunday is not until March 25, but the sap is already flowing in some parts of the state according to Kathy Hopkins, a maple syrup expert with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. A typical season for maple producers is a cold January and February, with trees being tapped in mid-to-late February or […]

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Wheatland lab initiatives included in Mainebiz article on commercial drone use

University of Maine initiatives were included in the Mainebiz article, “Commercial drone use is taking off, as more Maine companies use them on the job.” The Barbara Wheatland Geospatial Analysis Laboratory in UMaine’s School of Forest Resources is introducing drone technology to various industry professionals, according to the article. “We’ve worked with Verso at their […]

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UMaine mentioned in media reports of CLT firm expanding to Maine

The Bangor Daily News, WABI (Channel 5) and Woodworking Network reported the nation’s first manufacturer of cross-laminated timber plans to set up shop in Maine, with a goal of creating 100 jobs at a $22 million mill. SmartLam, LLC of Montana still seeks a mill site, but has committed to building a factory in Maine […]

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UMaine mentioned in Press Herald article on lobster industry

The University of Maine was mentioned in a Portland Press Herald article about the popularity of live lobsters in Asia. Two-thirds of the live lobster sold overseas by the U.S. last year went to Asia, up 36 percent from the year before. The growth in the $231.9 million Asian market is welcomed by the Maine […]

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