Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 27 N OV E M B E R 3 , 2 0 2 5 F O C U S FA M I LY OW N E D B U S I N E S S A roostook County has long been referred to as Maine's Potato Empire. Because of the relatively short season in the County and its rich, fertile soil, pota- toes became the dominant crop as non-indigenous settlement increased in the 19th century. By the middle of the 20th century, Aroostook County was the largest potato growing area in the country — the empire was at its zenith. With consolidation, potato farms are bigger but fewer in number. Roughly a quarter million acres of land were in potato production at the empire's peak. Now the acreage is roughly a quarter of that, with much of the potato crop going to chips or fries. Although yields are certainly up per acre from 100 years ago, com- petition from western states and changes in the market has dislodged Aroostook County from its position as top potato producer. Wood Prairie Family Farm in Bridgewater is bucking the trend and has been doing so for decades. Jim Gerritsen started the farm in 1976. e farm currently grows 10 acres of potatoes, selling seed potatoes across the nation — both wholesale and retail. Gerritsen emphasizes the retail end of the game. "We need to sell as close to the end user as we can — gardeners," Gerritsen says. "We need to make our success out of margin, not volume." C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Maine's Own JS McCarthy Packaging is one of the Northeast's largest commercial printers and a leading producer of folding carton packaging for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic brands. When second-generation owners began succession planning, they sought a path that preserved their Maine roots and rewarded their workforce. In 2019, the company became 100% employee-owned through an ESOP structured by Be llview. "We liked that Belleview wasn't just selling an ESOP—they insisted on doing it the right way, with the maximum benefit for the company and employees," said co-owner Amy. Since then, employee ownership has strengthened both engagement and reinvestment. "It's another tool in our toolbox for employee retention," added Matt, the company's CFO. "Last year we invested nearly $10 million in new equip ment—all in cash—because of the flexibility the ESOP created." 207-669-2254 inquiries@bellviewassociates.com bellviewassociates.com "It meant a lot to us to keep the company here in Augusta. We've been here for over 75 years, and the ESOP let us preserve that legacy and those jobs." Working Together Toward a Common Goal Working Together Toward a Common Goal At The Dunham Group we're more than just a team of brokers, we're a collaborative force. Our open office environment allows our brokers to share knowledge and expertise so we can connect clients with the right opportunities for their growth. Put Our Collaborative Approach to Work for You. 2 Monument Square, Portland, ME | 207.773.7100 | dunhamgroup.com With specialty potatoes, family farm thrives in Aroostook County B y J o h n O ' M e a r a One can always find less expensive potatoes than ours, but our quality is quite good. — Jim Gerritsen Wood Prairie Family Farm

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