Penobscot McCrum building new potato processing facility in northeast US

Maine’s potato-growing powerhouse Aroostock County is getting a new potato processing plant.

Penobscot McCrum is building a 115,000-square-foot facility on the former site of a potato factory near Washburn, reported The County.

Jan Weigman, the project manager, said the permit process is ongoing, but the plan is to use as much of the existing infrastructure as possible. Construction will take about a year.

Penobscot McCrum formed in 2004 when the McCrum family, which has been growing potatoes in Maine for five generations, bought Penobscot Frozen Foods. The company is based in Belfast, Maine, and produces baked, mashed, wedges and potato skins.

Maine Potato Board Executive Director Don Flannery told The County the project will be great for Maine potato growers by increasing their processing opportunities, which is already significant. The majority of Maine potatoes go to processors.

McCain Foods and Bob Evans also have processing facilities in Aroostock County.