PRESQUE ISLE, ME — The McCain Top 10 Potato Growers were recognized at the annual McCain Grower Banquet at the Stone Ridge Event Center in Presque Isle on August 21. Over 300 guests were invited to celebrate the 2018 growing season and recognize the top ten growers and their achievements.
Champion Grower selection is based on the highest standing quality of the following three delivery categories: field direct delivery, winter storage delivery and refrigerated storage. This award of 2018-2019 Champion Grower was earned by Lajoie Farms of Cyr Plantation. They have been growing potatoes for McCain since the development of the company in Maine. Field Manager Bart Bradbury estimates that they have hauled close to 60,000 truckloads of potatoes just for McCain in their 40-plus years of collaboration. Mike and Phil Lajoie have decided to move into retirement, and have ended their farming career with a lot to be proud of.
Allison McCain, Chairman of McCain Foods Limited, personally congratulated each of the winning growers at the banquet, and spent time greeting all of the Maine farmers and their families in attendance. In his address, McCain commented on the value of the growers and recognized their endurance through tough times, as well as their drive to improve.
Other McCain management on hand to congratulate the growers included Christine Wentworth, VP of Agriculture North America, David Good, Director Ag Supplier Relations NA, Dale McCarthy, VP of Integrated Supply Chain GNA, Dave Giroux, Easton Plant Manager and Bart Bradbury, Field Department Manager.
Special focus was turned to Leigh Morrow, Director of Agronomy East, who has announced his retirement. After 22 years of working with McCain in addition to several more in the potato industry, Leigh thanked all the growers for their cooperation over the decades. He will be retiring this October. Jim Clark was also recognized for his retirement after 32 years.
The participants in the Young Grower Development Program were thanked for their willingness to learn. Chris Flewelling, Joel Guerrette, Logan McLaughlin, Jordyn Madore, Zachary Pryor, and Mason Turner attended a two day event of education and touring, to strengthen future relationships between McCain and growers, and to establish a better understanding of how to best work together.
In the category of Field Direct Delivery, Grass Farms (Duane & Kevin Grass) were awarded first. Second place in this category went to West Ridge Farms (Garth & Trent Lundeen, and Ward, Taylor & Logan McLaughlin), and third place went to Griffeth Farms (John, John Jr, Matt & Steven Griffeth).
In the Winter Storage Delivery category, LaJoie Growers LLC took the top place (Gil, Dominique, Jay, Lucas & Sky Lajoie). Second place in this category went to Dana Morrell (Dana and Dana Jr Morrell). Third place was awarded to County Super Spud (Darrel & Nick McCrum).
In the Refrigerated Storage Category, first place was earned by Snow Road Farms (Derek Kilcollins and Wayne Bradbury). Second Place in this category was awarded to Landeen Farms (Michael & Shawn Landeen). Third place went to B.D. Grass & Sons (Brent & Neil Grass).
Standing, left to right: Dana Morrell Sr., Field Department Manager Bart Bradbury, Chairman of McCain Foods Allison McCain, McCain VP of Integrated Supply Chain Dale McCarthy, Taylor McLaughlin, Director of Agriculture NA David Good, Bryant Grass, Logan McLaughlin, Lane Grass, Kevin Grass, Neil Grass, Brent Grass, Mitchell Grass, Nick McCrum, Wayne Bradbury, Colin McCrum, Darrel McCrum, John Griffeth Sr., Matt Griffeth, Field Department Field Rep Jaylee Fox, Field Department Scheduler/Storage Manager Brent Bradley, Steve Griffeth, John Griffeth Jr., Charlie Griffeth, Derek Kilcollins, Dana Morrell Jr., Trent Lundeen, Field Department Field Rep Nicholas Fanning, Sky Lajoie, Easton Plant Manager Dave Giroux, VP of Agriculture NA Christine Wentworth.
Front row: Mike Landeen, Shawn Landeen, Duane Grass, Marilyn Lajoie, Mike Lajoie, Jay Lajoie, Gil Lajoie, Lucas Lajoie
