LIMESTONE, Maine (WAGM) – One of Maine’s largest commercial projects is officially underway, as construction has begun on a 96,000-square-foot Taste of Maine Potato Chip facility at the former Loring Air Force Base.

Replacing the rumble of military aircraft, the new sound emerging from Limestone will soon be the sizzle of kettle-cooked potato chips. The Taste of Maine Potato Chip Company broke ground today on a facility that promises to deliver both flavor and economic opportunity to Aroostook County.

Bruce Sargent, owner of the company, described the project’s initial scale and its future potential.

“We’ll turn the keys over so we can get started in April, May to get started on making chips,” he said.
“We built the plant for 8 kettles but we’re gonna start out with 4 which will handle about 1,500 acres. We’re building extra building now because it’s cheaper to build it now than it is to add on. Everything will be set up to go to 8. We’ll just have to buy 4 more kettles and a packaging line and that’ll be it. With 4 kettles we’ll do about 100,000 8 oz. bags a day.”

The chip factory will begin with four kettles, processing round white and russet potatoes into a range of flavors. The facility is designed for easy scalability, with plans to double production in the future. Sargent emphasized how growth will also mean jobs for the region.

“My goal is to be able to be able to co-pack and private label for the major stores,” he added.
“It isn’t like you can make 2-3 hundred thousand bags a day because it’s a small operation because each kettle cooks so many pounds at a time. Once it’s completed, we’ll probably start out with probably 40 jobs, build into probably 60 to 65 jobs before we’re done

The launch of the Taste of Maine Potato Chip plant marks a major economic milestone for Limestone and Aroostook County, breathing new life into the former military base. Once a hub of national defense activity, the Loring Air Force Base is now evolving into a center for food manufacturing and rural innovation.

The facility’s construction is expected to create short-term jobs for builders and contractors, and long-term employment for machine operators, packaging line workers, quality control, and logistics roles. Local farmers also stand to benefit, as the company sources its potatoes regionally, creating a stable market for thousands of acres of crops.

Sargent's strategy includes private-label partnerships with major retailers, which could position the brand as a national supplier. Meanwhile, local economic development officials are celebrating the project as a model for rural revitalization through food production and entrepreneurship.

Once operational, the plant will not only generate tens of thousands of chip bags daily but also serve as a symbol of rural economic resilience, leveraging Maine’s agricultural strengths and small-town workforce to meet national market demand.

The factory is expected to begin chip production by spring 2026, with full expansion to 8 kettles planned as market demand increases.

Originally reported by Karri Triplett in WAGM.