Bruce Sargent, a Presque Isle native and owner of Falcon Transportation, LLC, a commercial and freight carrier business, had an idea that would evolve into the formation of the Taste of Maine Potato Chip Company. The idea was refreshingly simple: if some of the country’s best potatoes are already being grown in Aroostook County, why shouldn’t more of them be turned into finished products right here in Maine?
After more than two years of planning, permitting and construction, Taste of Maine Potato Chip Company, LLC began operations in July of 2026. Located at 190 Northcutt Road on the former Loring Air Force Base site in Limestone, Maine (now known as the Loring Commerce Center), Taste of Maine’s state-of-the-art 81,100 square-foot production facility is currently producing 5 different flavors of kettle-style potato chips and an initial capacity of approximately 15 million pounds of finished product per year. This facility represents a perfect fusion of Maine’s rich agricultural tradition and the latest in modern production technology thus ensuring their chips are made with both exceptional quality and consistency. The facility was designed with a commitment to sustainability by incorporating systems that minimize power and water usage, an in-house wastewater pre-treatment system to reduce chemical demand and lower the burden on public infrastructure, a byproduct recovery process that minimizes landfill waste, and an integrated heat and oil recovery system that reclaims energy and materials to improve sustainability and reduce operating costs.
Taste of Maine proudly uses locally grown potatoes sourced directly from Maine’s hardworking potato farmers, which are then carefully selected and cooked in small batches and seasoned with premium ingredients to guarantee superior flavor and texture in every chip.
Once the company scales up into full production the facility will feature four kettles, increasing its capacity to 30 million pounds of finished product per year, and will likely increase its employment base to 75-100 employees. The positive economic impacts of Taste of Maine to the Aroostook County economy are many, including more employment opportunities, increased tax revenue, and market expansion for the region’s potato growers.
The company is actively seeking private label and co-packing opportunities to expand its market share and remain agile in a fast-moving market. Customer reviews of the chips have all been extremely positive and the company is poised to continue scaling up. Bruce Sargent’s lifelong experience in Maine agriculture along with his personal mission to support local growers has helped create a company that bridges the gap between Maine’s potato farming legacy and the future of advanced food manufacturing.