Maine’s seaweed harvesters collected 17.7 million pounds of seaweed in 2014, setting a new state record and quadrupling the amount collected in 2014.
The Associated Press described the growth of the industry in article published Wednesday, saying that the state now supports more than 20 companies that grow or collect seaweed.
In 2006, Maine overtook California as the country’s biggest producer of seaweed, but the totals are still dwarfed by Asian countries dominating the 25 million-ton-a-year industry.
Hillary Krapf, founder of the Maine Seaweed Festival, told the AP that this year’s second-annual festival in South Portland drew more than 3,000 people, more than double the first year.
“Maine is excited about seaweed, and the world is excited about seaweed,” Krapf said.
