PRESQUE ISLE (AP) – Despite a good potato crop this fall, northern Maine growers report that some spuds are turning soft while in storage because of late blight and other rot.

“Melting potatoes are a problem,” said Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board. “It is a situation where some of it was expected because of the late blight around and unexpected water problems.”

Some of the problems have been linked to heavy rains in August that caused flooding in the St. John Valley.

Gil Caron, a Fort Kent grower, said some growers will be seriously hurt by the rain and some may quit the business after this year.

“Potatoes are melting in some storages,” Caron said. “It isn’t nice to see.”

Flannery said the percentage of potatoes affected by storage problems does not appear to be high and there is no cause for concern for the industry as a whole.

North American Potato Market News recently reported that late blight is a problem in New Brunswick.

“Growers are extremely concerned about storage losses,” the industry newsletter said. “Assessments vary widely.”

There were allegations earlier this fall that Canadians were not reacting quickly enough to late blight problems. Flannery said opinions vary on whether Canadian inaction made problems worse.

“We here in Maine handled the situation. Our cull disposal was done better here than in Canada last season,” he said. “It’s better when taken care of right. The faster word gets out about the danger, the better the industry can react to that.”

He said it wrong to blame the Canadian industry for the problem, while adding that officials on both sides of the border should share information.

Shipments of Maine tablestock potatoes have begun, with prices ranging between 85 and 95 cents per 10-pound bag, according to Flannery. Prices last year were as low as 50 cents.

Despite the increase, Flannery said the “price is not what we would like to see. It’s still somewhat soft, but prices are higher than last year.”

Aroostook County farmers planted an estimated 65,000 acres of potatoes this year, compared to 68,000 last year. An estimated 500 acres of potatoes were lost to late blight and the overabundance of water.

Overall, Flanner said, this year’s crop is a good one.

“We do have some nice potatoes,” he said. “Bad potatoes are a small portion of the crop.

“Yields were also bigger,” he continued. “Production may be more than last year despite having fewer acres.”