Harvest of the Month
January
Maine Potatoes!
Harvesting Potatoes at Rowe School
Look for potatoes (mashed and baked!) on this month's Menu
Fun Facts!
Potatoes are native to South America. Check out this video about potato biodiversity.
Potatoes have more potassium than a banana!
The average American eats 135 lbs of potatoes per year!
The Maine Potato Board and University of Maine have created two new varieties of potato: The Easton (great for fries) and The Sebec (great for chips).
This Month's Menu Will Feature Potatoes from Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg, ME
Green Thumb Farms is a 3rd generation farm located in the Saco River Valley. They farm 2,200 acres of rich soil that perfect for agriculture.
In rotation with potatoes, they grow corn, and several varieties of beans.
Green Thumb Farms potatoes will be in school lunch on January 5th (mashed potato) and January 24th (baked potato).
Check out their website for more information about their farm!
Different Varieties of Potatoes
How to Use and Store
From the Maine Dept. of Education
Different varieties of potatoes are better suited for different purposes.
What is your favorite way to eat potatoes?
From Maine Dept. of Education
From Maine Dept. of Education
Growing Potatoes
When potatoes start sprouting roots, they become potato seeds!
Each of these seeds will grow a lot more potatoes. Plant them deep in the soil in the spring deep and dig them up in the fall!
School Garden Potato Harvests
Maine Potato Videos
Learn about the potato harvest at DoubleG Farms in Aroostook County!
Hear what harvest time on a large potato farm is really like.
Learn about Harvest Break, a 3-week break during the school year where kids help with the potato harvest and earn money.
Hear about what makes this part of Maine special to the people who live there.
Promotional Videos from the Maine Potato Board!
Potato Recipes
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
Somali Beef Stew with Spiced Rice (Bariis Maraq)
by Hawa Hassan
This satisfying stew uses russet potatoes and a warm spice blend.
recipe from In Bibi's Kitchen
Full Recipe here
