>> YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING YOU’D LANDED IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.
MAYBE EVEN A DIFFERENT CENTURY.
>> THIS IS WHAT THE UNITED STATES USED TO BE.
>> MANY HERE FLY A FLAG MOST OF US ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH.
>> AS AMERICANS, WE REALLY STAND OUT.
>> A WORLD WHERE THE HUMBLE SPUD GETS THE RED CARPET TREATMENT AND THE GAME OF HOT POTATO GETS VERY REAL.
MAINE’S ARRESTOR COUNTY, AS FAR OUT AS NEW ENGLAND GETS.
QUITE LITERALLY.
THE END OF THE ROAD.
♪ >> THIS IS CHRONICLE ON WCVB.C CHANNEL 5.
>> THE LARGEST COUNTY BY LAND EAST OF THE ROCKIES, LARGER THAN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT AND RHODE ISLAND COMBINED.
IT IS RICHLY ENDOWED WITH FARMLAND.
AS THE DAYS COOL, THAT LAND IS LOADED WITH POTATOES.
>> THE INDUSTRY IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
DEMAND FOR POTATO PRODUCTS HAS BEEN STRONG.
>> FIVE GENERATIONS OF MIKE ROUNDS HAVE FORMED THESE FIELDS.
MECHANIZATION HAS TRANSFORMED THE INDUSTRY.
BUT NICK SAYS THAT RAMPING UP FOR THE HARVEST NEVER GETS EASIER.
>> YOU CAN’T DIG IN SEPTEMBER.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE’VE GOT ENOUGH STAFF TO GET THESE POTATOES OUT.
>> BUT HAS THERE EVER BEEN A PROBLEM A GOOD VACATION COULDN’T SOLVE?
HARVEST BREAK.
LOCAL SCHOOLS CLOSE FOR THREE WEEKS SO TEENS CAN HELP BRING IN POTATOES.
>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING TRADITION GOING BACK GENERATIONS.
WORKING LONG DAYS, IT IS NOT 65 AND SUNNY DAY EITHER.
IT IS GOOD FOR THE KIDS.
THEY GET TOUGH.
>> I WAS ITCHING TO GET OUT AND PLAY IN THE DIRT.
WE ALL USED TO DO IT WHEN WE WERE LITTLE.
>> BRANDON CONROY IS ALL TOO HAPPY TO SWAP ALGEBRA CREST FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
>> I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO 25 OR 30 OR SO.
>> WE FIND BRANDON IN THE TOWN OF NEW SWEDEN, ONE OF THE LAST FARMS TO USE HANDPICKING CRUISE.
>> I THINK I’M ONE OF THE LAST ONES LEFT.
>> A SEVENTH GENERATION MEMBER OF A VIBRANT SWEDISH COMMUNITY IN THE TOWNS OF STOCKHOLM AND NEW SWEDEN.
>> I FIGURE IF I WAS GOING TO PUT UP METAL, I MIGHT AS WELL TRY A SWEDISH FLAG.
>> HE USED MECHANIZED HARVESTERS FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT OPTED TO GO BACK TO HAND CRUISE.
>> QUALITY IS BETTER.
THERE’S A LOT LESS BRUISING.
AND IT IS MORE FUN.
>> HE’S SERIOUS ABOUT FUN.
EVERY DAY, THEY BUILD A CAMPFIRE IN THE FIELD AND HAVE A COOKOUT FOR LUNCH.
THAT IS WHEN THE HOT POTATOES START FLYING.
IT IS ALL ABOUT KEEPING THE WORKFORCE HAPPY.
>> I CAN’T PICK THEM ALL MYSELF.
>> HANDPICKING MAY BE MORE PHYSICALLY DEMANDING THAN WORKING THE CONVEYOR BELTS, BUT HE SEES KIDS COME BACK TIME AND AGAIN.
11TH GRADER MADISON IS A REPEAT PICKER.
SHE LIKES THE CAMARADERIE SHE FINDS IN THE FIELDS.
>> EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN SECTIONS.
IT HELPS ESTABLISH TEAMWORK.
>>’S ORGANIC POTATOES WILL BE SOLD TO MARKETS, BUT MOST OF THE COUNTIES POTATOES ARE PROCESSED INTO POTATO PRODUCTS, LIKE CHIPS AND FRIES.
NICK MICRON SAYS THERE ARE A FEW SIGNS TO INDICATE A GOOD YEAR.
THE DAILY YIELD AND THE NFL STANDINGS.
>> WHENEVER THE PATRIOTS WIN, WE ALWAYS DO BETTER.
THERE’S MORE PARTIES IN NEW ENGLAND.
>> NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH THE IDEA OF THE HARVEST BREAK.
IN 2018, THE NORTHERN MAINE SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO PHASE IT OUT.
BUT AFTER AN OUTCRY FROM LOCAL POTATO FARMERS, THEY REINSTATED IT.
THE LENGTH OF THE BREAK VARIES DEPENDING ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
STUDENTS REPORT TO SCHOOL EARLY TO MAKE UP THE CLASS TIME.