Mainebiz

V O L . X X I N O. V I M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 5 8 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E pool of 80 candidates and campus visits in February where hundreds of students, faculty, staff and mem- bers of the community engaged in discussions with three presidential finalists. He was one of two finalists to replace interim USM President David Flanagan, the other being Glenn Cummings, interim University of Maine at Augusta president and former Maine House Speaker. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Creative Work Systems, a Portland nonprofit supporting adults with dis- abilities, announced it will extend its daily community services hours on May 4, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its lo- cations in Auburn, Portland and Saco. BONNEY Staffing Center announced it is relocating its office and corporate headquarters from 477 Congress St. in Portland to 21 Donald B. Dean Drive, Suite 2, in South Portland. Hannaford Supermarkets donated $19,000 in food to Good Shepherd Food Bank as part of Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger. Sugarloaf, Sunday River could be sold by REIT CNL Lifestyle Properties, a Florida- based real estate investment trust, is looking to sell Sugarloaf, Sunday River and 14 other ski resorts. e Associated Press reported that CNL Lifestyle is evaluating whether it should sell its properties to one buyer. Other properties include theme parks and marinas. CNL Financial Group's senior managing director told the AP that a private buyout is one possible alternative. If sold, there wouldn't be a noticeable At Jensen Baird, our commitment is to you. Maine lawyers. Maine clients. Maine values. Portland / Kennebunk 207-775-7271 • 1-800-756-1166 • jbgh.com We know what our clients need, because we know Maine. Our lawyers understand the unique challenges of living and doing business here. We aren't part of a huge national firm, we're part of the community. And we've been that way for over 60 years. UMaine, Maine Potato Board launch new potato variety Move over Idaho, Maine is launching a new potato variety called the "Caribou Russet." Developed by the University of Maine and licensed by the Maine Potato Board, the new potato variety is a cross between a Silverton Russet and Reeves Kingpin and is described as having "high yields, mid-season maturity and moder- ate common scab resistance," among other attributes. It's also described by its creators as having "good baked and mashed quality for fresh market consump- tion and is also expected to be useful for processing markets." The new variety was developed at the University of Maine in the breeding program overseen by Gregory A. Porter, chairman of the university's Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences. "Potatoes are bred for a multitude of characteristics — everything from disease resistance to improved fry color," Tim Hobbs, director of development and grower relations for the Maine Potato Board, said in the press release announcing the new variety. "To get the right combination of characteristics in one variety takes a large investment in time and resources. Eventually this investment pays off." The new variety has long tubers with lightly russeted skin and white flesh, with yields for U.S. Grade 1 potatoes that averaged 130% of Russet Burbank potatoes in side-by-side trials. U.S. Grade 1 yields have averaged 122% those of the fresh market standard, Russet Norkotah. A limited amount of early generation seed is available from the Maine Seed Potato Board and from growers in Maine. The Maine Certified Seed Potato Directory has information on commercial seed availability. A sub-license to grow Caribou Russet potatoes is available through the Maine Potato Board. Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, characterized the board's partnership with the University of Maine as beneficial to Maine's potato industry. "The university has the research and development capability and commitment for developing new potato varieties, from the lab to the field, which takes years," he said. "They understand what the growers and the industry are looking for and need. We, in turn, have the capacity to promote the varieties and maintain the quality of seed required for the integrity of the variety and the market. We are already fielding questions from growers around the country as well as in Maine. This partnership is truly advantageous for the industry." — J a m e s M c C a r t h y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N

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